In a Vatican speech on Friday, Pope Leo XIV voiced concern regarding the erosion of respect for human rights and what he termed the modern world’s “zeal for war.”  He emphasized that the fundamental prohibition against violating sovereign borders has been completely undermined, lamenting that “war is back in vogue, and a zeal for it is spreading.”

The Pope’s remarks come in the wake of President Donald Trump’s January 3 announcement of the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro via an extraordinary military operation. Amid this intervention and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Pope Leo underscored the necessity of adhering to international law. While President Trump has outlined plans to oversee Venezuela’s transition to a new government, the Pontiff urged respect for the will of the Venezuelan people.

Highlighting international humanitarian law, Pope Leo stated that such commitments “must always prevail over the ambitions of belligerents.” He warned that the destruction of essential infrastructure constitutes a serious violation, insisting that the true moral measure is not strategic advantage, but the “protection of the principle of the inviolability of human dignity.”

Calling for “peace and inclusive dialogue,” he urged world leaders not to waver, and reiterated the Holy See’s willingness “to support any initiative that promotes peace and harmony.” Beyond Latin America, he pointed to escalating global crises, including tensions in the Caribbean and the Pacific coast, East Asia and Africa’s Great Lakes region, as well as instability in Haiti and Myanmar.

Additionally, in East Asia, concerns have arisen regarding North Korea’s military actions, such as ballistic missile tests and nuclear capabilities. On January 5, Japan condemned North Korea’s launch of multiple ballistic missiles, describing the launches as serious security threats that jeopardize the safety of its citizens and regional stability in Northeast Asia.

In Southeast Asia, Myanmar has remained under military rule since 2021. UN experts have criticized the military leadership for their recent election, highlighting issues of “coercion, violence, and exclusion” that influenced the voting process.

Against this backdrop of global instability, Pope Leo called for a renewed commitment to dialogue and the protection of human dignity.