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Pope Leo XIV Criticizes Use of Religion to Justify War During Africa Tour; U.S. Bishops Issue Supportive Statement

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Pope Criticizes Use of Religion to Justify War; U.S. Bishops Clarify Remarks

Pope Leo XIV, during an 11-day tour of Africa, delivered a speech in Cameroon criticizing world leaders who invoke religion to justify military actions. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops subsequently issued a statement clarifying that the Pope's comments referenced the Catholic Church's tradition of just war theory. Separately, a federal contract with a Catholic Charities program in Miami for migrant children's services was ended by the U.S. administration.

The Pope's Remarks in Cameroon

On Thursday, Pope Leo XIV spoke at Saint Joseph Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon. In his remarks, he stated:

"Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain."

Some sources included an extended quote: "dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth."

The Pope made several key points:

  • He noted that billions of dollars are spent on military actions, which he described as "killing and devastation," while he said resources for "healing, education and restoration" are lacking.
  • He characterized the world as being "ravaged by a handful of tyrants" but held together by "a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters."
  • He did not mention any specific world leader by name.

The speech was part of an 11-day tour of Africa, which included a stop in Algeria earlier in the week.

Responses and Clarifications

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

On Wednesday, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement attributed to Bishop James Massa, chair of the conference's committee on doctrine. The statement supported Pope Leo XIV and sought to clarify his position.

Key points from the bishops' statement:

  • It stated the Pope's comments reference the Catholic Church's long tradition of just war theory.
  • It clarified that a "constant tenet" of this theory is that a nation can only legitimately take up arms "in self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed."
  • The statement added, "When Pope Leo XIV speaks as supreme pastor of the universal Church, he is not merely offering opinions on theology, he is preaching the Gospel and exercising his ministry as the Vicar of Christ."

U.S. Vice President JD Vance

Prior to the bishops' statement, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who is a Catholic convert, commented on the Pope's previous statements about war. Speaking at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Georgia on Tuesday, Vance referenced the Catholic tradition of just war theory. He stated, "When the pope says that God is never on the side of people who wield the sword, there is more than a 1,000-year tradition of just war theory." Vance had suggested the Pope should "stick to matters of morality."

The bishops' statement said Vance had misstated the Pope's position.

Pope Leo XIV's Earlier Comments

While traveling to Algeria earlier in the week, Pope Leo XIV spoke to reporters about his role. He stated, "I do not see my role as that of a politician. I am not a politician and I do not want to enter a debate with him." He added, "I continue to speak strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems."

Related Development: Federal Contract Ended

On Wednesday, the Miami Herald reported that the U.S. administration ended a federal contract with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami.

Details of the contract and its termination:

  • The contract was with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), a part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
  • It was valued at $11 million and funded a program providing services for unaccompanied and undocumented minors detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
  • The contract was described as longstanding, with one source citing a relationship of more than 60 years.

Reactions to the Contract Termination

  • Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami stated the services would be forced to shut down within three months. He called the decision "baffling" and said the program's track record was "unmatched," serving as a model for other agencies.
  • Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, provided a statement. She said, "ORR is closing and consolidating unused facilities as the Trump administration continues efforts to stop illegal entry and the smuggling and trafficking of unaccompanied alien children." The statement did not specifically mention the Miami program.
  • Hilliard also noted that the average daily population of unaccompanied migrant children in the agency's care during the current administration is about 1,900, which she described as "significantly lower" than under the previous administration.

Additional Context

On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump posted an image to his Truth Social platform depicting himself being embraced by Jesus with the U.S. flag as a backdrop. Some sources noted this followed the deletion of a previous AI-generated image after backlash.