From Death Merchants to Peace Builders: Pope Leo XIV’s Prophetic Rebuke of Global Rearmament”

By Marco Baratto

In a world increasingly gripped by conflict, division, and militarization, Pope Leo XIV's address to the participants of the Plenary Assembly of the "Riunione delle Opere per l'Aiuto alle Chiese Orientali" (ROACO) stands out as a voice of moral clarity and spiritual urgency. Delivered in the wake of a high-level global summit that controversially called on nations to increase military spending, the Pope's speech is nothing short of a prophetic denunciation of the logic of war and a heartfelt plea for peace, justice, and human dignity.

The Tragic Illusion of Rearmament

At the heart of Pope Leo XIV's speech lies a scathing critique of the rearmament agenda that is once again gaining traction among world powers. In an era where international summits no longer speak the language of diplomacy, but rather of deterrence and supremacy, the Pope's words are a sharp counterpoint. He unflinchingly identifies the drive to rearm as not only misguided, but tragically illusory.

Rearmament, according to Leo XIV, offers the false promise of security while sowing the seeds of future devastation. It replaces the fragile but essential framework of international law with the brutal logic of force. "It is shameful for humanity," he declares, "that the strength of international and humanitarian law no longer obliges, having been replaced by the presumed right to compel others by force." This phrase encapsulates his radical opposition to the justification of military build-ups under the guise of protecting peace.

The Pope directly challenges the ethical and logical foundations of militarization. He exposes the cynical narrative that perpetuates the arms race: that more weapons will deter aggression, that preemptive strikes ensure safety, and that strength equates to peace. He does not mince words—this is not strategic prudence, but moral failure. It is the triumph of fear over wisdom, of profit over human life.

A Prophetic Exposure of War Profiteering

Perhaps the most powerful and politically charged passage in the entire address is Pope Leo XIV's rebuke of what he calls the "merchants of death." These are the global arms dealers, defense contractors, and complicit political systems that profit from the suffering of others. "People are becoming increasingly aware," he states, "of the amount of money going into the pockets of death merchants—money that could be used to build hospitals and schools, but instead is used to destroy those already built."

Here, the Pope does more than denounce war; he indicts the global military-industrial complex. He brings attention to the perverse economy that thrives on conflict—a system where bombs are dropped not to protect civilians, but to meet defense contracts; where wars are prolonged not out of necessity, but out of financial incentive.

The Pope's allusion to the words of the prophet Isaiah—"they shall beat their swords into plowshares"—is not mere poetry. It is a direct challenge to turn weapons into tools of life, to redirect military budgets toward the needs of the poor, the sick, and the oppressed. His voice carries the weight of both the Gospel and the cries of countless innocent victims from Ukraine to Gaza, from Syria to Sudan.

Between Herod and Pilate: A Spiritual Call to Action

Rather than stop at denunciation, Pope Leo XIV moves his listeners—especially those in the global Church—toward discernment and responsibility. In a particularly moving segment, he contrasts the witness of Christ with the actions of two biblical figures who symbolize the failure of moral leadership: Herod and Pilate.

Herod, the Pope notes, killed innocent children out of fear of losing power. Today, children are still being killed—not by swords, but by drones, bombs, and missiles, as collateral damage in wars justified by security rhetoric. Pilate, for his part, represents the passive cowardice of those who "wash their hands," avoiding responsibility while enabling injustice. These two figures are as relevant now as ever: they are the archetypes of those who kill directly, and those who enable killing by doing nothing.

In contrast stands Christ, who "defeated evil by loving from the cross." For Pope Leo XIV, this is the model of true leadership—not domination or silence, but sacrificial love and unwavering justice. He calls Christians everywhere, and especially in the embattled Eastern Churches, to bear witness through fidelity to this example, not aligning themselves with the "tentacles of power" but standing firmly in the meek strength of the Gospel.

The Role of the Church in a Time of War

The Pope acknowledges the tragic disruption of ROACO's assembly, caused by the impossibility of participants from the Holy Land to travel due to ongoing violence. Yet he transforms this absence into a spiritual mandate: to make every tragic image and news report an opportunity for prayer, intercession, and concrete aid.

But he goes further. Prayer and charity are essential, but not sufficient. What the world needs, the Pope insists, is testimony—the lived witness of peace, truth, and resistance to evil. This is especially crucial in the Christian East, where communities are tempted to flee or to compromise their faith for survival. To them he offers gratitude and encouragement: "Thank you, brothers and sisters," he says, "for the testimony you give when you remain in your lands as disciples and witnesses of Christ."

This is a Church that refuses to align itself with violence, even when surrounded by it. A Church that builds rather than bombs, that heals rather than wounds, that loves rather than hates. In this testimony lies the real counter-narrative to war—a vision of the world not as a battlefield of interests, but as a shared home where the dignity of every person is defended.

Conclusion: The Cost of Peace

In a geopolitical climate that increasingly equates strength with weaponry, Pope Leo XIV's address is a necessary disruption. It calls us to question not only the policies of governments but the values that drive them. Are we building a world based on fear and control, or on justice and solidarity? Are we investing in life, or in death?

The cost of peace is high. It demands sacrifice, courage, and truth-telling. It requires disarming not only our weapons, but our hearts—letting go of pride, vengeance, and greed. Pope Leo XIV's voice is not that of a neutral observer, but of a shepherd wounded by the suffering of his flock. And in this cry, the world is given a choice: to follow the path of Herod and Pilate, or to follow Christ—on the way of the cross, which alone leads to resurrection.