Irish Bishops: 'War is not the answer. No political leader has authority to unleash war at will.'

Source: Irish Catholic Bishops Conference

On the second day of their Spring General Meeting, the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference in Maynooth, published the following statement calling for peace in the Middle East:

Yet again, the people of the Middle East are experiencing an unjust war with the loss of innocent lives. War is utterly destructive. In an era of change and readjustment of geopolitical balances and cultural paradigms, war is not the answer. No political leader has the authority to unleash war at will.

The uncertainty incited by the current situation in the Middle East is destabilising for the world on many fronts - politically, socially and economically. This is a time for international diplomacy to work for peace based on justice.

We are particularly mindful of the Irish citizens who are in the various countries of the region at present, including members of the Irish Defence Forces on peacekeeping duties. This is a very worrying time for them and for their families. We assure them all of our prayers during these days.

We pray too for those innocent lives lost, and for all those people and families who carry injuries and trauma.

We join with Pope Leo XIV in calling on all parties involved to 'assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence before it becomes an unbridgeable chasm' (Angelus, 1 March 2026).

As the Holy Father also noted in his recent address to diplomats, 'All of this suffering, anxiety and fear reminds us how much the world needs to turn to God, who alone is peace. In this season of Lent, let us pray for peace, fast from words and acts of hatred and conflict and discover anew the life-giving peace that Jesus Christ brings us - 'my own peace I give you, a peace that the world cannot give…' (John 14:27). Let us keep to the fore Pope Leo's timely Prayer Intention for March 2026: 'that nations move towards effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence and war'.

At this moment of great tension and volatility for the people of the Middle East, and for the world, we ask for prayers for peace and healing; that the voices of hatred will be replaced by a politics dedicated to upholding the God-given dignity of every human person, the common good and solidarity with those in need.

Signed by

Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, chair of the Commission for Social Issues and International Affairs of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference.