Pope Leo XIV called for an end to war and urged diplomats to prioritize dialogue and honesty in their work during an address to Italian diplomats commemorating their Jubilee pilgrimage.
Pope Leo XIV on the Importance of Diplomacy and Peace
Pope Leo XIV highlighted hope as “the name the will takes on when it firmly strives for the good and the justice it feels as lacking.” He stressed that hope is essential in diplomacy, stating that “only those who truly hope always seek and support dialogue between parties, trusting in mutual understanding even in the face of difficulties and tensions.”
The Pope distinguished authentic diplomacy from self-serving calculations or rivalries, emphasizing its ability to achieve sincere agreements. He encouraged diplomats to emulate Jesus’ example of reconciliation and peace, which he described as “a hope for all peoples.”
Authentic dialogue, Pope Leo insisted, requires honesty – both in keeping one’s word and ensuring actions align with words. He called for “educating” language “in the school of listening and dialogue” to foster harmony among nations.
“To be authentic Christians and honest citizens,” the Pope said, “means sharing a vocabulary capable of expressing things as they are, without duplicity, cultivating harmony among peoples.”
Recalling the appeal of Paul VI sixty years prior at the United Nations, Pope Leo repeated the plea, “No more war, war never again! Peace, peace must guide the destinies of Peoples and of all humanity!” He continued, stating that peace “is the duty that unites all humanity in a common search for justice… peace is the definitive and eternal good that we hope for everyone.”
Pope Leo concluded by urging diplomats to be “men and women of dialogue, wise in reading the signs of the times according to that code of Christian humanism that is at the root of Italian and European culture.”
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
