Pope: There is no holy war: only peace is holy
Pontiff addresses participants of Assisi meeting marking 40th anniversary of 1986 Day of Prayer for Peace in a video message, calling on them to reject the use of religion to justify war.
Pope Leo XIV addressed participants of the meeting in Assisi in a video message, stating that "There is no holy war: only peace is holy!" The text of the October 27 address was published on the Vatican website.
According to the pontiff, the "spirit of Assisi" means rejecting the religious justification of war, mediation and dialogue. "We must rebuild peace everywhere, not prepare new wars! War can never be waged in the name of God!" he said. Leo XIV added that to fight in the name of religion is to strike a blow against religion itself.
The Pope urged the attendees to ask God to touch the hearts of those who want war and terrorism. He called on religious leaders to sustain dialogue so that the language of arrogance gives way to the language of peace and negotiation. The address concluded with words from the Gospel of Matthew: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
As the UOJ reported, Pope Leo XIV called for concessions for the sake of peace in Ukraine. The first prayer meeting in Assisi took place in 1986, and since then the city has become a venue for interreligious meetings for peace.
