Pope Leo has expressed strong criticism of world leaders who spend billions on wars, declaring that the world is being “destroyed by a handful of tyrants.” The unusually toned comments came during a visit to Cameroon on Thursday, at a time when he was also the focus of attacks on social media from US President Donald Trump.
The pope, the first American-born to lead the Holy See, also condemned the use of religious language to justify armed conflict. He called for a “decisive change of course” during a meeting in one of the main cities in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions, an area that has been plagued for years by a protracted conflict that has claimed thousands of lives.
According to him, high military spending is being done at the expense of ordinary citizens, while conflicts are fueling violence and instability globally. Pope Leo stressed that political and religious rhetoric is often used to justify war, instead of promoting dialogue and peace.
His statements come at a time of high international tensions, strengthening the call for a reduction in conflicts and a move towards diplomatic solutions.
In conclusion, he appealed for the international community to take more responsibility to curb the escalation of crises and protect civilians, who remain the most affected by wars.
