Pope calls European military spending as betrayal of diplomacy

Pope's speech at the Sapienza University of Rome. Photo: a screenshot from Talk Shows Central by DRM YouTube channel

On May 14, 2026, Pope Leo XIV criticized the rapid growth of military spending in Europe, calling it a betrayal of diplomacy and an undermining of trust, reports The Straits Times.

Speaking to students at Sapienza University of Rome, the pontiff urged them not to refer to such rearmament as "defence spending", adding that the world was being “maimed by wars”, which only increases tension and instability in the world.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, military spending on the continent grew by 14% in 2025, reaching $864 billion. Pope Leo noted that these funds are being diverted from social spheres to enrich elites who "do not care about the common good." According to him, today the world is literally "mutilated by wars."

The head of Catholics paid special attention to the use of artificial intelligence in modern conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. He called the use of new technologies for military purposes an "inhuman evolution" and warned that the development of autonomous weapons systems leads to uncontrolled annihilation.

Pope Leo urged the some 110,000 students at the university not to “close themselves within ideologies and national borders” but become "artisans of true peace."

The Pope's statements came against the backdrop of continued pressure from US President Donald Trump, who demands that NATO allies increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.

Earlier, the UOJ reported on how the Pope stated that he has no fear of Trump and will continue to speak out against wars.

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