During Pope Leo XIV’s trip to Africa and while he was on the plane heading to Algeria, he delivered an address intended to remind the world of the Church’s role, namely it is neither a political party nor a candidate seeking official posts, but rather an evangelical voice that seeks dignity and peace. This message gains a sensitive and  an impressive dimension today when it reacts to statements by global leaders, as observed in contrast with the U.S. president’s positions and some of the Pope’s stands that defend human values such as protecting civilians and ending wars

It is evident that when religion respects its proper role, it does not interfere in political affairs as a substitute for political actors. Yet, it remains free to tell the truth, namely by calling for justice, by holding the collective conscience responsible for protecting the vulnerable, and by urging an end to violence while caring for refugees, the displaced, and children affected by war. The Church aught not and should neither replace practical solutions with moral ones, nor does it accept that beliefs be turned into pretexts for bloodshed or justification for displacement

In the past, political jurisprudence sometimes addressed “just war” in its capacity as a theoretical framework. However, terms like “holy war” have lost their moral and political legitimacy in our times. There is no holy war that justifies the killing of  the innocent, and no wars in the name of God can legitimize the violation of human dignity. The contemporary reality has given us harsh lessons, namely the tragedies of Gaza, the durable wound in Ukraine, and the escalating conflict among major powers. All this reminds us that religious or national justifications that resort to violence breed nothing but more suffering and schism.

From this premise emerges the Pope’s repeated call, namely to stand “with a loud voice” against wars, and to advocate peaceful means in addition to multilateral dialogue to find solutions that protect civilians and establish justice. This is not a political stand in its narrow sense, but rather a moral cry and a humanitarian message. When the voice of religion rises to defend dignity and rights, it affirms that no salvation can be brought about through violence, and that the duty of human conscience is to reject turning doctrines or ideologies into justifications for killing and forcible displacement.

Amidst crises, our responsibility remains shared by promoting a culture of peace, by supporting reconciliation initiatives, and by rejecting the logic of revenge. When religion takes its true place--as a guide to conscience rather than a ruler--it can become a genuine force of change, by saving lives, and building a future that is less violent as well as more just and humane.

The stances of Pope Leo reminds us of Pope John Paul II’s stand on the eve of the U.S. war on Iraq in 2003, when former President Bush said he had seen a holy vision commanding him to wage war on Iraq. From the Vatican, the Pope cried out to the whole world: War is an irreversible adventure. Despite European support for that war at the time, the Pope—now declared a saint—remained steadfast in rejecting it, a war later shown to have been based on false and invalid grounds.

What is important in this regards is that he sent Cardinal Pio Laghi, one of the Vatican’s most prominent diplomats, who met Bush trying to convince him to turn away from war. When Bush refused, he told him: “Take God’s name out of your war… No wars in the name of God!”

How similar yesterday is to today…  while the ship of the Church continues to call for peace and the rejection of war.