“War is the easiest path… We must choose the difficult path of ‘peace’”
With the U.S. and Israel’s airstrikes on Iran, there is a growing sense that the war is spreading across the Middle East.
The Catholic Church, led by Pope Leo XIV, is raising its voice against war and calling for peace.
During the Angelus prayer on the 8th, Pope Leo XIV once again called for an end to the war in the Middle East and warned against the escalation of the conflict.
The Pope urged, “Let us pray that the sound of cannons may cease, weapons may fall silent, and a forum for dialogue may open where the voices of all peoples can be heard.”
Statements from the Catholic Church opposing war and calling for peace in the Middle East are also coming in one after another.
The Catholic Church’s call for parties to lay down their arms and come to the negotiating table is growing louder.
The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) stated in a declaration on the 3rd, “Only sincere, responsible, and sustained dialogue can open the way to a just and lasting peace.”
It urged “all parties to fulfill their moral responsibilities, reject the vicious cycle of escalation leading to deeper suffering and irreversible loss, and immediately cease hostilities.”
Furthermore, it emphasized interfaith solidarity, stating, “Diplomacy must be restored as the primary means of resolving conflicts, and no matter how difficult it may be, dialogue is the only path that respects the dignity of peoples and the sovereignty of nations.”
The Asia-Pacific member organizations of the International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (ICMICA) also issued a statement on the 2nd, declaring, “We strongly condemn the military actions of the United States and Israel.”
They emphasized, “Sustainable security can only be achieved through negotiations in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, not through military escalation.”
The Secretary General of the Bishops’ Conference’s Justice and Peace Commission said, “Peace is difficult, but we must take the difficult path to enjoy peace.”
“The easiest way to achieve peace is actually to wage war. It’s paradoxical, but the hardest part of achieving peace is dialogue, compromise, communication, concession, and sacrifice. While it takes a long time to achieve, once it is achieved, we can enjoy peace for a very long time.”
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