World is in ‘profound’ crisis, Pope warns Spain’s MPs
Increasing conflicts, deepening polarization and widespread disrespect for human rights are plunging the world into a deep crisis, Pope Leo told the Spanish parliament in one of his most comprehensive political speeches yet.
Leo, who has recently adopted a tougher tone against the guidance of global leadership, also firmly reiterated his opposition to increasing Europe’s military spending and instead called on politicians to end the wars ravaging the world and help migrants.
“The world is experiencing a profound spiritual and cultural crisis that manifests itself in various forms of violence, polarization and mutual distrust,” the pope said in his speech just hours after Israel and Iran renewed attacks on each other in the most serious test of the two-month ceasefire. he said.
“Guns can bring temporary silence, but they can never build real and lasting peace,” he said on Monday. he said.
Leo’s speech, delivered in Spanish and receiving a seven-minute standing ovation from lawmakers, was a rare address by the pope to the national legislature and the first by a pope to the Spanish parliament.
It’s part of the pope’s week-long visit to the country, where he met with immigrants and the homeless and called on national leaders to stop dividing the electorate.
The pope, whose trip to Spain will culminate in the pope meeting migrants trying to enter Europe by braving treacherous Atlantic waters in the Canary Islands, said the lack of aid for migrants around the world challenged the “ethical foundations of the international order”.
He said countries must look for solutions that go beyond “mere flow management” and address the causes such as war, poverty and climate change that are forcing people to leave their home countries.
“The moral greatness of a nation is revealed, above all, in its capacity to accompany, protect and love lives passing through the greatest vulnerability,” the pope told parliament.
Leo, who published a fiery manifesto in May calling on global governments to slow the development of AI systems, called on Monday for “rigorous ethical caution” over how AI is used in warfare.
He said the increase in European military spending, which increased by the highest amount since the end of the Cold War in 2025 under pressure from US President Donald Trump, was disturbing.
In May, the Pope described European rearmament as a betrayal of diplomacy.
