Pope Criticizes Europe's Rearmament — Reuters
Pope Leo XIV condemned the rise in military spending in Europe, stating that large-scale rearmament exacerbates global tensions and undermines diplomatic efforts.
This was reported by Reuters.
Speaking to students at a university in Rome, the pontiff emphasized that such spending should not be called defense spending, since, in his words, it contributes to instability, diverts resources from education and healthcare, and enriches those who do not care about the common good.
Leo XIV stated that the world continues to suffer from wars, and relying on arms instead of diplomacy only deepens the crisis.
Against the backdrop of these statements, U.S. President Donald Trump has previously called on European allies on multiple occasions to increase defense spending. In 2025, NATO countries endorsed a new target of defense spending at 5% of GDP.
Trump criticized the Pope over foreign policy issues.
The Pope mentioned the Ukrainian people during his Easter greeting.
