Pope Leo slams Europe's rearmament

Pope Leo XIV has condemned the rapid increase in military spending in Europe, saying the continent's rearmament, amid geopolitical tensions, is undermining diplomacy and diverting essential resources from education and health. The remarks were made at a meeting with students at Rome's Sapienza University, Europe's largest university, and come amid an unprecedented increase in European military budgets, fueled by the war in Ukraine and pressure from US President Donald Trump, Reuters reports. The pontiff rejected the idea that increased spending on weapons is a legitimate form of defense. "Let us not call "defense' a rearmament that increases tensions and insecurity, impoverishes investment in education and health, betrays trust in diplomacy and enriches elites who care nothing about the common good," Pope Leo said. The Pope described the contemporary world as one "mutilated by wars” and called for a paradigm shift, in which resources are directed towards cooperation, knowledge and solidarity.

• European military spending at its highest level since the Cold War

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), European states spent approximately 864 billion dollars on defense in 2025, 14% more than the previous year. This is the largest increase since the end of the Cold War. The increase in budgets is mainly determined by the continuation of the war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the decision of NATO member states to strengthen their defense capabilities. At the insistence of Donald Trump, NATO supported a new goal in 2025 of allocating 5% of GDP to defense, a threshold well above the current target of 2%.

• Tensions Between the Vatican and Donald Trump

In recent weeks, Pope Leo XIV and Donald Trump have been at odds publicly, particularly over the Iran-Israel conflict and US foreign policy. The Pontiff's criticisms were seen by conservative American circles as a direct challenge to the security doctrine promoted by the Trump administration. In his speech in Rome, the Pope also drew attention to the growing role of artificial intelligence in armed conflicts. He cited the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon and Iran as examples of an "inhuman evolution of the relationship between war and new technologies into a spiral of annihilation.” His warning reflects growing concerns among religious leaders and ethicists about the use of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence algorithms in military operations.

• Call to Youth: "Be Artisans of Peace”

Addressing the approximately 110,000 students of Sapienza University, the Pope urged them to transcend ideologies and national borders. "Together with me and with many brothers and sisters, be artisans of true peace,” the Pontiff said. His message reaffirms the Vatican's traditional position, which advocates dialogue, international cooperation and the resolution of conflicts through diplomatic means. Pope Leo XIV's statements come at a time when European states are accelerating defense investments and geopolitical tensions are intensifying. While political leaders argue that rearmament is necessary for security, the Vatican warns that lasting peace cannot be achieved by accumulating weapons, but by strengthening diplomacy and trust between nations.