The U.S. attack on Venezuela presents a moment to examine the continuing relevance of just war theory—especially since it is withering away with the Trump administration’s “Rambo” militarism.
War and Peace
Posted inShort Take
The Epiphany story reminds us: Keep our eyes on Palestine in 2026
The violent oppression of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank continues, and looking away will not change that.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo: ‘The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration.’
In response to a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, Pope Leo XIV called for nations to respect Venezuela’s sovereignty and to pursue justice and peace.
Posted inSpeeches
Read: Pope Leo on World Day of Peace
In his ‘Message for the 59th World Day of Peace,’ Pope Leo called for an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace around the world.
Posted inFaith, News
Nigerian Catholic Church leaders give mixed reaction to US airstrikes
Some Nigerian Catholic Church leaders welcomed U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic State group militants, but some church leaders questioned the religious framing for the strikes.
Posted inPodcasts
O Little Town of Bethlehem: written for children in the aftermath of war, then and now
After the U.S. Civil War, Philadelphia rector Phillips Brooks traveled to Bethlehem seeking solace. Three years later, that experience inspired him to write this carol for the children of his parish. Does it still speak to those who carry the weight of war?
Posted inThe Weekly Dispatch
After Bondi Beach, how safe is America from Islamic State terror?
The ISIS rampage at Bondi Beach in Australia highlights a phenomenon well known to counterterrorism experts: The holiday season also represents a period of heightened threat from extremist groups like the Islamic State.
Posted inThe Weekly Dispatch
What might Pope Leo make of Trump’s ‘America First’ National Security Strategy?
The Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy is at odds with church teaching and Pope Leo’s priorities on the transatlantic alliance, climate change, immigration, arms production, nuclear weapons and more.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
UPDATED: Pope Leo meets Ukraine’s Zelensky as European leaders discuss controversial U.S. peace plan
Pope Leo and President Volodymyr Zelensky met at a particularly delicate moment in the international effort to arrive at a peace plan that can be accepted by both Ukraine and Russia.
Posted inNews
Archbishop Broglio urges end to Trump administration’s Venezuela strikes
“I call on our Nation’s leaders, legislators, and those specifically charged to direct our Armed Forces to respect the consciences of those who raise their right hands to defend and protect the Constitution by not asking them to engage in immoral actions,” Archbishop Broglio said.