Pope opens cardinals' gathering with anti‑war message

Pope begins cardinals’ gathering with anti‑war message

Pope Leo XIV spoke with bishops at the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Luanda on the eighth day of his 11‑day apostolic journey to Africa, April 20 2026. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

During a Vatican gathering of cardinals on Friday, Pope Leo XIV urged people to resolve conflicts as human beings rather than beasts.

The closed‑door consistory, which concludes on Saturday, will address a range of global challenges confronting the Catholic Church.

The event began with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica led by the US‑born Pope Leo, whose anti‑war remarks have drawn strong criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.

In his homily, the pope said, “International tensions and conflicts seriously wound the human family.” He added, “War is never worthy of humanity and is never blessed by God.” He further noted that, even with advanced weapons, “the