Pope Leo XIV sends video message to religious leaders in Assisi after lung cancer surgery: ‘There is no such thing as a holy war’
‘Only peace is holy.’
Pope Leo XIV delivered a strong message to religious leaders gathered in Assisi this Tuesday, October 27, 2026, declaring that there is no such thing as a holy war. The American pope shared his thoughts through a video message, as he is currently recovering from lung cancer surgery that took place on October 13.
According to the Associated Press, the pope was originally expected to attend the event in person to mark the 40th anniversary of a major interfaith peace meeting. However, his health needs kept him away from the Italian hilltop town. The gathering in Assisi serves to honor the legacy of St. Francis and the 1986 meeting initiated by St. John Paul II.
This event brought together leaders like the Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, along with various Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian representatives. Pope Leo used this platform to address the state of the world, specifically denouncing the use of religious justifications for ongoing conflicts.
Pope Leo made it clear that war can never be waged in the name of God
“Only peace is holy,” the pope stated in his address. He also noted that for believers, fighting in the name of religion actually means attacking religion itself. This sentiment mirrors his first encyclical, Magnificent Humanity, where he argued that religious violence acts as a perversion of faith.
The pope expressed his disappointment about missing the chance to be physically present at the gathering. He said, “I would have very much liked to have been with you at the tomb of Saint Francis on this important anniversary, to see your faces and bear witness together to the fact that living as brothers and sisters is already possible!”
The pope highlighted that we live in a time marked by a culture of power. He urged those present to cultivate the spirit of Assisi, which involves rejecting the religious justification of war and focusing on mediation and dialogue. He emphasized that we must rebuild peace everywhere instead of preparing for more wars. This call comes as religious groups have often been accused of using faith to back military aggression.
For instance, the Russian Orthodox Church has described the invasion of Ukraine as a holy war against a Western world they claim has fallen into evil. Similarly, U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have sometimes framed the war in Iran through a lens of Christian faith and military might.
Pope Leo XIV remains a vocal opponent of these narratives
The pontiff believes that prayer serves as a humble strength for believers, even when it might appear weak against the powers of the world. He encouraged leaders to foster a climate of dialogue so that the language of arrogance can be replaced by the language of peace and negotiation, per Vatican News. By doing so, he hopes to lead humanity away from the cycle of violence.
While the pope addressed the spiritual side of conflict, the Vatican is also taking concrete steps to help those affected by war. Monsignor Luis Marín de San Martín, the pope’s chief almsgiver, started a three-day visit to Ukraine this Tuesday. He is bringing trucks filled with blankets, winter clothes, and food to be distributed in cities such as Kyiv, Fastiv, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia. This humanitarian effort follows a localized ceasefire in the southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky.
The pope played a role in these developments through direct communication with world leaders. On October 16, he called Russian President Vladimir Putin from his hospital bed to request a ceasefire and the safe evacuation of civilians. Three days later, while back at the Vatican, he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to share his hopes for the delivery of medical aid and food.
There has been some discussion regarding the origins of the ceasefire in Oleshky
The White House credited first lady Melania Trump for securing the agreement. When asked about this, Vatican foreign minister Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher stated that the Vatican was unaware of the first lady’s specific role. He chose not to engage in debates over who deserves credit for the success.
Gallagher noted, “I think it’s one of those situations in which it doesn’t matter who actually brought it about or who takes the credit, it’s the fact that hopefully it is real, it will last, it will allow for evacuation and it will allow the arrival of humanitarian aid to help the people who are left behind.”
The Vatican continues to focus on humanitarian issues under the guidance of Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who acts as the papal envoy for the war. Zuppi recently completed his third mission to Moscow on September 30. His current work centers on reuniting Ukrainian children with their families.
According to Gallagher, neither Russia nor Ukraine is currently asking the Holy See to take on a larger role in mediation. For now, the pope is focused on his recovery and the message that our prayers should aim to make us unarmed instruments of God’s peace.
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