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Pope Declares Just War Doctrine Obsolete, Iran Conflict Fails

6/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Pope Leo's new encyclical declares the traditional just-war doctrine obsolete in the era of drones, cyber-warfare and nuclear weapons.
The encyclical, released last month, states that the notion of a just war no longer applies.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio said the U.S. conflict with Iran fails the just-war criteria and requires a fresh doctrinal review.
Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia described the pope’s move as accelerating a peace initiative begun by earlier pontiffs.

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Story summary

Pope Leo's new encyclical declares the traditional just-war doctrine obsolete in the era of drones, cyber-warfare and nuclear weapons.
The encyclical, released last month, states that the notion of a just war no longer applies.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio said the U.S. conflict with Iran fails the just-war criteria and requires a fresh doctrinal review.
Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia described the pope’s move as accelerating a peace initiative begun by earlier pontiffs.