Pope Francis criticizes deterrence policy, calls for real peace

On Saturday, May 11, Pope Francis engaged with the faithful during the Global Meeting on Human Fraternity at the Vatican. This gathering served as a platform to explore the theme of world peace and the persisting arms race between Western and Eastern powers, inevitably discussing warfare.

Pope Francis told the attendees that "War is a defeat" and "a deception," as is the idea of international security based on the deterrent of fear.

The Pope maintained that "to guarantee lasting peace we need to return to recognizing ourselves in common humanity and placing fraternity at the centre of the life of peoples". This principle dominated discussions at the Vatican meeting, where the Pope also advocated for establishing institutions committed to fostering global dialogue.

Pope Francis elaborated, "Only in this way will we be able to develop a model of coexistence capable of giving a future to the human family."

Among the key outcomes of the Global Meeting on Human Fraternity were tangible suggestions, including drafting a Charter of Man or a Charter of Humanity. However, realizing this requires the continuous endeavors of many, often working away from the limelight, committed to cultivating peace globally.