Pope Francis has urged global leaders and the public to resist the temptation of embracing a “warlike spirit”.
In a post on X on Sunday, the Pope cautioned against propaganda that breeds hatred and division.
He warned of the dangers of rhetoric that could turn friends into enemies and fracture global unity.
“I ask you to be vigilant against the temptation to cultivate a warlike spirit. Be vigilant lest you be poisoned by propaganda that instils hatred, divides the world into friends to be defended and foes to be fought,” the post reads.
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Although Pope Francis did not state any country categorically his post has elicited reactions in the global politics space.
Pope Francis’ statement is also coming at about the time when United States President Donald Trump sanctioned the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Trump accused the ICC of taking “illegitimate and baseless actions” against the US and its ally, Israel.
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The US president then imposed financial and visa restrictions on individuals and their families who assisted the ICC in investigating American citizens.
The ICC also issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The ICC said it found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant acted as civilian superiors and intentionally directed attacks against a civilian population. A Hamas commander was also subject to an arrest warrant.
Tomoko Akane, the ICC president, said the order harmed the court’s independence and deprived millions of innocent victims of atrocities of justice and hope.
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She asked the court’s 125 state parties, civil society, and the international community to defend the Hague-based ICC.
Thereafter, 79 state parties including Nigeria released a joint statement reaffirming their support for the ICC.
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