Pope Leo XIV Urges Resolving Conflicts as Humans, Not Beasts

Pope Leo XIV urged resolving conflicts "as humans, not as beasts" in a speech delivered at the opening of a two-day meeting with cardinals from across the globe at the Vatican, which began on Friday, according to Agence France-Presse.

On Friday morning, the American-born pope presided over a mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome to inaugurate the closed-door gathering known as the Consistory. The meeting aims to exchange views on the role of the Church in the world and is scheduled to conclude on Saturday afternoon.

In his homily, Pope Leo XIV reiterated his opposition to war, expressing regret that "international tensions and conflicts wound the human family."

He stated, "War is never worthy of humanity, nor is it ever blessed by God; the Creator has given us reason and will to resolve disputes as humans, not as beasts, even though we are equipped with highly advanced weapons."

This marks the second occasion since his election in May 2025 that the pope has addressed all 241 members of the College of Cardinals, including those eligible to vote and those who are not, whether residing in Rome or other cities across the five continents.

This approach, which has become a central tool for Pope Leo XIV, reflects his declared intention to adopt a more collective method in managing Church affairs.

The program for the extraordinary Consistory, announced by the Vatican Press Office and concluding on Saturday at noon, includes four sessions each focused on a specific theme. During these sessions, the cardinals exchange opinions on the Church's stance regarding social, economic, and political divisions, either in general assemblies or through smaller reflection groups, interspersed with prayers.

Cardinals Discuss Church's Role in Social Divisions

Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, Archbishop of Algiers, told Agence France-Presse, "There will be genuine sharing among us. It is clear that Pope Leo wants us to form a single body and to become more familiar with each other; the more these meetings occur, the greater our unity becomes."

By intensifying these types of meetings, which began with the first session in January, Pope Leo XIV seeks to strengthen the role of the College of Cardinals as a consultative and deliberative body, at a time when the Church faces increasingly diverse challenges depending on the region of the world.