The Vatican has strongly criticized Donald Trump and JD Vance for their views on the “just war” theory, pointing out that the doctrine was crafted in a time before drones and is challenging to justify in modern warfare.
Andrea Tornielli, the Vatican’s editorial director, highlighted that the concept of “just war” originated centuries ago when battles were fought using swords, not advanced drones. Tornielli emphasized that over time, the understanding of this doctrine has evolved to acknowledge the increasing complexities in determining the legitimacy of a “just war.”
The comments from Tornielli were in response to Vance’s defense of the longstanding tradition of just war theory, countering Pope Leo’s assertion that God does not support those who engage in warfare. Vance, speaking at a recent event, acknowledged the potential for differing opinions on the justification of conflicts.
The exchange of remarks was triggered by Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo as “weak on crime” and his unfavorable stance on foreign policy following the pontiff’s disapproval of the US-Israeli military actions against Iran.
Tornielli further emphasized the ethical dilemmas posed by modern warfare, underscoring the moral complexities that arise in the face of deadly weaponry and advanced technologies, a stark contrast to historical contexts where wars were fought with conventional weapons.
Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington stated that the US-Israeli conflict in Iran did not meet the essential criteria for a morally justifiable war, such as responding to an imminent threat or ensuring that the benefits outweigh the harm.
Vance questioned the blanket statement that God does not support those who wield weapons, citing historical instances like the liberation of France and the freeing of prisoners from concentration camps by US troops. He urged caution in theological discussions, emphasizing the importance of grounding opinions in truth.
Meanwhile, Trump shared an AI-generated image on social media depicting himself alongside a figure resembling Jesus, in a move seen as provocative amid his disputes with Pope Leo XIV over the US and Israeli military actions in Iran. The post, which has since been deleted after sparking controversy, drew attention to the ongoing tensions between political and religious figures.
This latest development follows Trump’s previous sharing of an AI-generated image portraying himself as a figure resembling Jesus performing a healing act, which also generated strong reactions before being removed from social media.