VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV this week renewed the Church’s call for peace and dialogue, warning against the dangers of modern warfare in the nuclear age while also addressing a range of pastoral and doctrinal issues facing the Church today.

Speaking outside the papal palace at Castel Gandolfo, the Holy Father reflected on the growing complexity of the traditional concept of “just war,” emphasizing that the possibility of nuclear escalation requires a serious rethinking of war itself. “Violence must always be a last resort,” the Pope said, stressing that humanity can no longer approach conflict with the assumptions of previous eras when the destructive power of modern weapons threatens entire populations.

The Holy Father also rejected claims circulating in American political discourse suggesting that he supports Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. Reaffirming the Church’s longstanding opposition to nuclear arms, Pope Leo instead appealed for dialogue and diplomatic engagement over military escalation. His remarks came ahead of a scheduled meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as relations between the Vatican and the United States continue to involve what U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch described as “authentic dialogue,” even amid policy disagreements.

Vatican Report Criticizes Conversion Therapies

The Vatican Synod Secretariat also released the final report of a synodal study group examining pastoral approaches related to sexuality and accompaniment within the Church.

The document strongly criticizes so-called “reparative” or “conversion” therapies aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation, describing their effects as harmful and devastating. Included in the report are testimonies from two men in civil marriages with other men who recounted experiences of spiritual and pastoral suffering.

Rather than presenting definitive doctrinal conclusions, the report proposes a methodology centered on listening, dialogue, and what it calls “conversation in the Spirit” as a way of addressing emerging pastoral, ethical, and doctrinal questions within the Church. Vatican officials emphasized that the document is intended as a working framework for further study and discernment rather than a final magisterial statement.

Pope Leo Reflects on the Church as a Pilgrim People

During his weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV continued his catechetical series on the Second Vatican Council, focusing this week on Lumen Gentium and the Church’s identity as a pilgrim people journeying through history toward the heavenly homeland.

The Pope explained that the Church participates in the coming of God’s Kingdom by proclaiming Christ’s salvation, celebrating the sacraments — especially the Eucharist — and living relationships rooted in love and service.

He also stressed that the Church cannot remain silent in the face of injustice or attacks on human dignity. According to the Holy Father, the Church must stand beside the poor, victims of violence and war, and all who suffer, while also recognizing the need for continual conversion and renewal within ecclesial structures throughout history.

Vatican Rejects Ritual Blessings for Same-Sex Unions

The Vatican also made public a letter dated November 2024 from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith addressed to the German bishops concerning blessings for couples in same-sex unions and other irregular situations.

The letter rejects proposals for ritualized or formally structured blessings that could resemble marriage rites. Referencing Fiducia Supplicans, the Vatican reaffirmed that spontaneous pastoral blessings may not take on prescribed liturgical forms or include elements that could be interpreted as legitimizing unions not compatible with Catholic doctrine.

According to the Vatican, the letter was published after portions of it began circulating online without context, prompting confusion about what Rome had communicated to the German episcopate.

A Prayer Intention Focused on Hunger

To conclude the week, Pope Leo XIV released his prayer intention for the month of May, focusing on the global crisis of hunger and food insecurity.

In a video message distributed through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, the Holy Father highlighted the scale of acute hunger affecting millions around the world and invited the faithful not only to pray, but also to take concrete action. He encouraged efforts to reduce food waste and ensure that all people have access to quality food each day.

The Pope’s message also called for a broader culture of solidarity supported by practical initiatives such as food banks, awareness campaigns, and local charitable efforts aimed at assisting those most in need.

As Pope Leo XIV continues shaping the early months of his pontificate, the themes emerging from the Vatican remain consistent: peace over violence, dialogue over division, and a renewed commitment to human dignity rooted in the Gospel.