Pope Leo XIV addressed Spain’s parliament on Monday in the first ever papal address to the legislature, telling lawmakers that escalating conflict, deepening polarisation and widespread disregard for human rights had pushed the world into a “profound spiritual and cultural crisis.” The Spanish-language speech received a seven-minute standing ovation.
“Weapons can impose a temporary silence; but they can never build an authentic and lasting peace,” the pope said. The address came hours after Israel and Iran renewed attacks on one another in what he described as the most serious test of a two-month ceasefire.
Leo, who has adopted a more forceful tone against the direction of global leadership, firmly repeated his opposition to increased European military spending — which he called “troubling” — and urged politicians instead to end ongoing wars and help migrants. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has refused U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand that NATO members raise defence spending to 5% of GDP.
The pope said a lack of help for the world’s migrants was challenging “the ethical foundation of the international order,” and that countries must look beyond “the mere management of flows” to address the causes that force people to leave their countries — war, poverty and climate change. His Spain tour will culminate with a visit to migrants in the Canary Islands who braved Atlantic crossings to enter Europe.
Leo also met privately with six survivors of clerical sexual abuse during the visit and told bishops they must offer survivors reparations. A 2023 report by Spain’s human rights ombudsman estimated hundreds of thousands of victims of clerical abuse over decades.
The pontiff has previously called for “rigorous ethical vigilance” on the use of artificial intelligence in warfare, echoing a manifesto issued last month urging governments to slow the development of AI weapons systems.
Source: Reuters via Ada Derana.
