The Vatican has strongly criticized Donald Trump and JD Vance for their views on the “just war” theory, cautioning that the concept was developed before the era of drones and is becoming increasingly challenging to defend in contemporary warfare.
Andrea Tornielli, the Vatican’s editorial director, highlighted that the notion of “just war” originated centuries ago when battles were fought with swords, not advanced technology like drones.
Tornielli emphasized that over time, the understanding of “just war” has evolved, acknowledging the growing complexity in determining the legitimacy of conflict.
Following Pope Leo’s assertion that God does not support war, Vance countered by pointing to the long-standing tradition of just war theory, claiming there is room for debate on the justice of specific conflicts.
During a recent event at the University of Georgia, Vance remarked on the potential for differing opinions on the righteousness of wars.
The exchange unfolded after Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo for his stance on war, calling him “soft on crime” and detrimental to foreign relations in response to the pontiff’s remarks on the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Tornielli responded to Vance’s remarks by underscoring the ethical dilemmas posed by modern warfare, stressing the need for a reassessment of theological reflections from past centuries in light of technological advancements.
Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington stated that the US-Israeli actions in Iran did not meet the essential criteria for a morally justifiable war, such as a clear and imminent threat, transparent intentions, or a favorable balance of benefits over harm.
Vance questioned the notion that God does not support those who engage in war, citing historical instances like the liberation of France during World War II as examples of justifiable conflicts.
In another development, Donald Trump shared an artificial intelligence-generated image depicting him alongside a figure resembling Jesus, further escalating tensions amid his clash with Pope Leo XIV over the US-Israeli military actions in Iran.
The post, shared on Trump’s Truth Social platform, portrays a Jesus-like figure embracing him, accompanied by a caption alluding to divine intervention in current events.
After receiving backlash for a similar post depicting himself as a Christ-like figure, Trump eventually removed the controversial image from his social media account.