Pope warns war in Ukraine risks nuclear catastrophe

Kharkiv in snow Image Depaul International

Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis has made another passionate appeal for the world to set aside war and the threat of nuclear destruction. He makes the appeal in a new book due to be launched in Italy tomorrow. In an excerpt published on Sunday, the Pope begins by recalling that Church teaching refutes the idea that war can solve problems between nations, saying war is "always a defeat for humanity."

Describing the arms trade as "one of the worst moral scandals of our era" along with "the closure of national borders to those who seek a better life", Pope Francis restates that the possession nuclear weapons is immoral.

Pope Francis says the war in Ukraine, which began with Russia's invasion on 24 February, has revealed the horrors that result from war. Recalling the quick succession of the last century's two world wars, he says we are currently experiencing "a third world war fought piecemeal" which threatens to expand into a full-scale global conflict.

"To the explicit rejection of my predecessors, the events of the first two decades of this century compel me to add, unambiguously, that there is no occasion in which a war can be considered just. There is never a place for the barbarism of war, especially not when contention acquires one of its most unjust faces: that of so-called 'preventive wars.'"

War, is never justifiable and can never act as a solution, the Pope says. Rather, nations must engage in "dialogue, negotiations, listening, creative diplomacy, and far-sighted politics which can build a system not based on the power of arms or deterrence."

Peace must always be the goal of good politics and good Christians must always seek to dialogue with others, he adds.

"We must all work together to pave the way for a common hope. We all can, and must, take part in this social process of peace building."

Reflecting on the diffusion of weapons, Pope Francis said the arms trade is one of the worst moral scandals of our era, along with the closure of national borders to those who seek a better life.

He appeals to world leaders to end the arms trade and have the courage and creativity to replace weapons dealers with enterprises that promote the common good, fraternity, and integral human development.

The Pope also expresses concern over the spread of personal firearms, which he said has led to the proliferation of mass shootings and the accidental deaths of young children when guns are improperly stored.

Pope Francis then considers the threat of nuclear destruction, which he says the war in Ukraine risks unleashing. Possessing nuclear weapons in immoral, he repeated, saying their possession undermines the paths of dialogue and respect.

Nuclear arms put at risk humanity's survival on earth, noted the Pope.

"It is unacceptable and unconscionable today that we continue to squander resources to produce these kinds of weapons, while a serious crisis looms that has health, food and climate consequences and about which no amount of investment will ever be enough."
The choice to follow the path of non-violence and continued existence, lies with us, the Pope concludes.

The excerpt was published by Italian newspaper 'La Stampa' on Sunday. Pope Francis's new book, 'I Ask You in the Name of God. Ten Prayers for a Future of Hope' the book, edited by Hernan Reyes Alcaide and published by the Edizioni Piemme, comes in preparation for the 10th anniversary of his pontificate, on 13 March 2023.

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