РАДИСЛАВ ПП. I РИМСКО-РУССКИЙ RADISLAV PP. I ROMANO-RVTHENICVS Pacem et Justitiam in Mundo Encyclical on Recent Military Escalation and the Christian Duty to Peace To the Bishops, Clergy, and Faithful of Christ, and to All Peoples of Good Will: I. Prologue: Invocation and Solemn Concern In the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, We address all the faithful and those entrusted with the governance of nations and remind all that the Lord taught us to love our enemies and to seek reconciliation. Recent military actions resulting in the targeted killing of a foreign head of state and the rapid escalation of hostilities mark a grave and dangerous moment in international affairs. The Church must proclaim that no nation, however powerful, is exempt from the moral law of God; and no military action, however justified by human reason or supposed political expediency, is always subject to the immutable law of God. When military force is used beyond immediate and proportionate defense, when escalation becomes a reflex rather than a last resort, the conscience of the Christian people must be troubled. Human power, if untempered by virtue, becomes a source of suffering rather than a guardian of justice. II. The Sanctity of Human Life & The Limits of Power All men and women are created in the image and likeness of God. No nation, however mighty, no authority, however exalted, may disregard this fundamental truth. The shedding of innocent blood is never permitted, and the deliberate taking of life outside the bounds of legitimate defense is an affront to Almighty God who created all. The Apostolic Church has, throughout her history, affirmed the right of nations to defend themselves against aggression. Yet she teaches also that such defense must always be proportionate, necessary as a last resort, directed toward the protection of the innocent, and guided by prudence and moral law. Thus, even in the pursuit of security, rulers are bound by conscience and by the divine law. Furthermore, legitimate defense does not include the normalization of preemptive or expansive violence untethered from clear necessity. The just war doctrine is a severe moral test. It demands certainty of grave and lasting harm, exhaustion of peaceful alternatives, proportionality in response, protection of noncombatants, and a realistic prospect that force will restore order rather than multiply chaos. History has repeatedly shown that the targeted removal of political leaders rarely produces stability. More often, it unleashes cycles of retaliation, instability, and suffering for civilians. Power without restraint is not strength but temptation. III. Historical Perspective and the Lessons of the Past In centuries past, Christians faced grave threats to the faithful and to the pilgrimage to the Holy Places. Some of our forebears, moved by zeal and the urgency of the situation, took part in the Crusades, armed expeditions to defend Christendom and protect the innocent. These acts were conducted under extraordinary circumstances, and even then, the Church emphasized that the blood of innocents could never be justified. Today, the world is governed by different laws, international norms, and human institutions. Modern military conflicts, though politically complex, are subject to the same moral law: the protection of life, the pursuit of justice, and the promotion of lasting peace must guide the conscience of all peoples. Again We state that the lesson of history is that the use of force as a habitual instrument of policy, rather than a last resort, tends to inflame hatred, deepen divisions, and multiply suffering. Christians must learn from both the courage and the errors of our ancestors. IV. The Moral Evaluation of Nations All nations, great and small, are accountable to God. The Church does not judge political ideology but judges actions according to the natural law and the precepts of the Gospel. When military action is undertaken without clear necessity, when diplomacy is abandoned, or when innocent lives are placed at undue risk, such conduct fails the test of justice. The greater the power wielded, the greater the moral responsibility. Might does not confer moral license. Furthermore, the faithful must beware of placing their hope in men or political parties rather than in Christ. Political allegiance may never displace conscience. The actions of a favored leader, if morally deficient, remain morally deficient. Indeed, for generations, powerful nations have justified interventions across the globe in the name of security or freedom. Yet the fruit has often been fractured societies, displaced families, and prolonged instability. If military action becomes habitual and authentic diplomacy becomes secondary, then dominance replaces dialogue, and it becomes difficult if not impossible to meet the strict criteria of just war. V. The Call to Peace Christ’s command to “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44) and His beatitude, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9), are not optional guidance for Christians in the public square. These are eternal imperatives. The Apostolic, Orthodox, and Catholic Church calls upon all peoples and leaders, therefore, to restrain the use of force except in the gravest necessity; protect the innocent, especially the poor, women, and children; pursue justice through dialogue, negotiation, and mediation; and recognize that true peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of right order rooted in charity and the moral law. In times of war, let prayer, sacrifice, and works of mercy accompany all action. Let the faithful support refugees, the displaced, and all victims of violence with charity and fidelity. Let it be remember that the Church defends moral law, the innocent, and the truth that human life, even the life of an adversary, cannot be treated lightly. Every nation will answer to God for the blood shed under its authority. VI. Conclusion: Trust in Divine Providence Ours is not a call to despair but to hope. Christ reigns over history, and no human power can escape His providence. Though nations falter and leaders err, the Apostolic Church, proclaiming the timeless and unchanging faith of Christ, remains the moral compass by which all must measure themselves. Let every bishop, priest, and faithful Christian reaffirm: our ultimate allegiance is to God, our ultimate protection lies in virtue, and our ultimate task is the service of peace. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the Sea and Queen of Peace, intercede for all who suffer in conflict, guide rulers toward justice, and lead the world into the tranquility of lasting peace. Радислав Пп. I     [Chancery] [Curia] [Main Page]   DISCLAIMER, LEGAL, AND COPYRIGHT NOTICES