Pope Leo Denounces Just War Theory, Calls For Peace Not Violence
theowp.org
Pope Leo XIV's new encyclical directly challenges Just War Theory — one of philosophy's oldest frameworks for legitimizing violence — and the fallout could reshape how billions think about conflict.
Just War TheoryMoral PhilosophyPacifismSocial Contract Theory
Theory Briefing
- Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, published May 25th, takes a drastically different stance on international conflict than his predecessors.
- The document challenges Just War Theory, the centuries-old philosophical framework used to morally justify armed conflict under specific conditions.
- By calling for peace over violence, the Pope is invoking a pacifist moral philosophy that puts Catholic doctrine in tension with many allied governments' defense policies.