Pope Leo XIV. Appeals for Peace in Spanish Parliament and Criticizes Rearmament

Criticism of Rearmament and War

The Pope criticized the trend toward rearmament in several regions of the world, including Europe, describing it as a response to a difficult international situation. He expressed concern about rising European defense spending in the face of the threat from Russia. Weapons cannot create true and lasting peace, he stressed.

Genuine security can only come about through justice, through "geduldigen Dialog" and respect for international law. Peace requires "diplomatischen Mut, ethische Verantwortung" and respect for the identity of every people, Leo XIV. added.

Appeal for Migrants and Visit to the Canaries

In addition to security policy, the Pope also addressed migration. He called for greater aid for migrants. The background to this includes the numerous boat refugees from West Africa who have arrived in the Canary Islands in recent years. Later in his trip, Leo XIV. will visit the Canaries himself.

However, the visit to Spain is not solely defined by peace-policy appeals. Representatives of abuse victims held a silent protest outside the Vatican Embassy in Madrid to express their dissatisfaction with Pope Leo XIV. A meeting with Spanish abuse victims is scheduled as part of the trip.

Protests by Abuse Victims

The address before the Spanish Parliament is part of a series of international appearances by the Pope in which he has repeatedly called for the containment of armed conflicts and the strengthening of multilateral diplomacy. Spain is one of the most important Catholic countries in Europe, which gave the appearance particular weight.

Observers interpreted the ovation in Parliament as a signal from Spanish politics to the Vatican that it supports the Pope's peace-policy positions in the European debate. At the same time, the protest by victim representatives made clear that conflicts within the Catholic Church over how to handle abuse cases continue.

With his trip, which lasts until the weekend, the Pope intends, according to Deutschlandfunk, to set both pastoral and political accents. The visit to the Canary Islands is seen as a symbol of his migration-policy concerns, while the parliamentary address underscored the Vatican's line on peace ethics.