Pope Leo XIV said on Monday in a peace-focused address to the Spanish Parliament (Cortes Generales) that war is essentially the result of a “painful failure” of negotiation processes, expressing regret that violence and polarization have pushed the world into a “deep” crisis. In his speech, the first by a pope to the Spanish Parliament, he told politicians that achieving peace requires diplomatic courage and moral responsibility, and that disputes between countries must be resolved in accordance with international law. The remarks come amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, described as some of the most severe since the April ceasefire, as Pope Leo also met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Sánchez had previously opposed the war by the United States and the Israeli regime against Tehran. Pope Leo further told political leaders in Madrid that every war ultimately represents a painful failure of negotiations and also a failure of the shared human conscience, which recognizes bonds of justice between nations. He added: “The world is in a deep spiritual and cultural crisis, which manifests itself in various forms of violence, polarization, and mutual distrust. In such circumstances, peace is not only a political ideal but a moral necessity.”
