Pope Leo XIV criticized the increase in European military spending, considering it a betrayal of diplomacy.

Pope Leo XIV criticized, on Thursday, the increase in European military spending, which rose by 14% in 2025, reaching 864 billion dollars, the highest amount since the end of the Cold War. The Pontiff stated that this rearmament, influenced by the pressures of American President Donald Trump, should not be called "defense," but rather an action that increases tensions and impoverishes investments in education and health.

The Pope emphasized that this direction betrays a lack of trust in diplomacy and enriches elites indifferent to the common good. He also warned against the use of artificial intelligence in war, mentioning the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran as examples of inhumane developments. In front of approximately 110,000 students, the Pope called for unity and the promotion of peace, rejecting ideologies and national borders.