Pope Leo XIV recalled the words of John Paul II from the Cold War

Tuesday marks the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace, convened in 1986 in Assisi on the initiative of John Paul II. In a video addressed to the participants of the ceremony, Pope Leo XIV recalled that the Polish Pope pointed out the inseparable connection between an authentic religious attitude and concern for peace.

Leo XIV noted that the first meeting in Assisi took place during the Cold War. After 1989, he added, many people hoped that globalization would bring lasting stability to the world.

After that first historic meeting, Saint John Paul II encouraged us to live the spirit of Assisi. It was then the time of the Cold War, a completely different reality from today. After 1989, many people argued that globalization would ensure lasting peace in the world, he noted.

"Globalization did not automatically bring peace"

The Pope said that too much hope was placed on the ability of markets to create prosperity, democracy and security.

Globalization did not automatically generate unity or peace, but caused fundamentalist, identityist and nationalist reactions, he said, recalling the words from his encyclical "Magnifica humanitas".

According to Leo XIV, the consequence of these processes was "the disturbing rehabilitation of war as a tool of international politics."

"There is no holy war"

The Pope warned against a return to the thinking that accumulating weapons is the most effective method of stopping conflicts. As he emphasized, such an approach betrays the memory of the victims of the 20th century.

He called for the cultivation of the "spirit of Assisi", understood as the rejection of religious legitimization of war and the choice of mediation and dialogue.

We must rebuild peace everywhere, not prepare for more wars. War must never be waged in the name of God, he declared.

Leo XIV added that "there is no holy war - only peace is holy."

The Pope called on religious leaders to create an atmosphere of dialogue among the faithful and in societies. In his opinion, the language of arrogance should give way to the language of peace, negotiations and mutual understanding.

As he noted, this can help gradually lead humanity out of the spiral of violence. He also appealed for prayers for those who strive for war and terrorism.