Pope Leo XIV has delivered a stark warning that the world is sliding towards catastrophic conflict, declaring that 'war is back in vogue' as nations abandon diplomatic dialogue in favour of military force to assert their dominance.
In his first New Year's address to diplomats at the Vatican on Friday, the American-born pontiff warned that the 'zeal for war is spreading' across the globe, with the post-Second World War international legal order being 'completely undermined' by countries seeking peace through weapons rather than justice. The speech, delivered to 184 ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, represents Leo's most substantial foreign policy statement since becoming head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics last May.
