Cardinal Tobin: War and Peace

In so far as we are sinners, the threat of war hangs over us and will so continue until Christ comes again; but insofar as we can vanquish sin by coming together in charity, violence itself will be vanquished (cf. GS 78 § 6)

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

War is the result of sin. It is the destruction of the harmony and moral order that God intended to exist among individuals, nations, and peoples. War is always evil even when it is undertaken out of necessity for the defense of humanity. The Church opposes all war, and it stands in favor of peace—always and everywhere.

Yes, there are times when war is unavoidable—precisely in order to protect human lives or to restore peace. But war is never welcome. It is always reprehensible because of the damage it inflicts on human life (especially the innocent) and property (especially homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, and places of worship). “War is hell” is not just a slogan. It is a fitting description of the horrors and chaos that result from the acts of war, especially in this nuclear age.

The Church’s Just War Doctrine is a helpful tool in determining whether or not war is justified under very strict and limited conditions. But as Pope Leo XIV has pointed out (see selection below), this teaching may need to be examined, and possibly updated, to ensure that it takes into account the evolving circumstances of modern life and contemporary warfare. For example, the use of unmanned drones powered by artificial intelligence (AI) raises serious questions about moral responsibility that need to be addressed as never before.

When the Church says that it always stands for peace over against war, we are describing a state of human affairs that is much greater than simply the absence of armed conflict. Peace is not just social stability. Our understanding of peace is ordered toward communion with God and the true good of the human person. The Church’s teaching on peacemaking says that Jesus’ shalom means “perfect communion with God,” and that peacemaking flows from humility, gentleness, forgiveness, and mercy.

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