Pope Leo XIV delivers a speech during a joint session of the Spanish Parliament at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid, June 8, 2026, during his June 6-12 apostolic journey to Spain. (OSV News/Stefano Rellandinii, pool via Reuters)
Vatican News

Pope Leo: War is 'a painful defeat' for diplomacy

Vatican

Pope Leo XIV warned of a "profound spiritual and cultural crisis" gripping the world, taking aim at war, rearmament and the decay of international cooperation in one of his most politically charged speeches since becoming pope just over a year ago.

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Editors' Choice

Pope Leo XIV disembarks the papal plane as he arrives at Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas International Airport in Madrid June 6, 2026, to begin his apostolic journey. Leo's June 6-12 visit is the first papal visit to the country since Pope Benedict XVI traveled to Madrid for World Youth Day in 2011. (OSV News/Reuters/Violeta Santos Moura)

In Focus

Pope Leo arrives in Spain pushing back on polarization amid rising far-right

"The temptation to gain popularity by fanning the flames of polarization seems to have grown rather than diminished, and human dignity continues to be violated," the pontiff said.

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Pope Leo XIV delivers a speech during a joint session of the Spanish Parliament at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid, June 8, 2026, during his June 6-12 apostolic journey to Spain. (OSV News/Stefano Rellandinii, pool via Reuters)
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