Pope Leo Warns Spain’s Parliament of Spiritual Crisis

Pope Leo XIV told Spain’s parliament that escalating conflict, deepening polarization and widespread disregard for human rights had pushed the world into a profound spiritual and cultural crisis. The speech on Monday was one of his most expansive political addresses yet, and he again rejected rising European military spending while urging leaders to end wars rather than fuel rearmament.

“The world is undergoing a profound spiritual and cultural crisis, which is manifested in multiple forms of violence, polarization and mutual distrust”, the pope said hours after Israel and Iran renewed their attacks on one another.

“Weapons can impose a temporary silence; but they can never build an authentic and lasting peace”, he added.

In the first papal address to Spain’s parliament, Leo also spoke about migration. He said a lack of help for the world’s migrants challenged “the ethical foundation of the international order”. Countries should look beyond “the mere management of flows”, he said, and address the causes that force people to leave their countries of origin, including war, poverty and climate change.

Leo also called for “rigorous ethical vigilance” over the use of artificial intelligence in warfare. He described rising European military spending as “troubling”, defended religious freedom and said faith “cannot be relegated to silence as though it were irrelevant to public life”.

The pope also defended the seal of confession, saying its protection preserves “a sacred space of inner freedom, where the believer can open his or her soul before God”.

(reuters, bak)