Pope Leo XIV challenges 'just war' theory in historic consistory

Pope Leo XIV recently held his second consistory, gathering 178 cardinals to address pressing issues facing the Church. Among the key topics was his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, which sparked wide-ranging discussions. The meetings also explored the role of artificial intelligence and the future of Catholic teaching on war and peace. The cardinals examined Magnifica Humanitas in depth, focusing on its themes of human dignity, the common good, and Catholic social teaching. Artificial intelligence was a recurring subject, with debates centred on its ethical implications through these same principles.

Pope Leo used the occasion to deliver a strong homily. He declared war as 'never blessed by God' and labelled the traditional 'just war' theory as 'now outdated'. His stance drew attention, though not all cardinals fully embraced the shift.

Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of San Diego argued that the Church must still define when military force could remain morally justifiable. He also stressed that synodality—shared decision-making—should shape every level of Church governance.

Cardinal Antoine Kambanda of Kigali, Rwanda, noted that the discussions highlighted diverse views on how synodality should work in practice. The cardinals also spent time considering how to apply these ideas across the global Church. The consistory concluded with ongoing questions about modern ethics and Church governance. Pope Leo’s rejection of 'just war' theory and the debates on artificial intelligence signalled a potential shift in Catholic teaching. The cardinals left with the task of refining how synodality and new moral frameworks will be implemented.