Pope Leo XIV has strongly condemned the erosion of international law, stating that the world is witnessing a “shameful” shift where might is increasingly overriding established humanitarian and legal principles.
In a recent social media post, the pontiff said, “It is disheartening to see today that the strength of international law and humanitarian law no longer seems binding, replaced by the presumed right to overpower others.”
He added, “This is unworthy and shameful for humanity and for the leaders of nations.”
While not specifying any particular conflict, his remarks come amid mounting global outcry over Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, which UN experts and rights groups have labeled as genocidal.
The war has killed over 56,000 Palestinians, displaced nearly the entire population, and drawn accusations of war crimes, including starvation tactics.
ICC Warrants Ignored as Violations Persist
The Pope’s statement follows the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes.
Despite this, key ICC member states, particularly in Europe, continue military and trade ties with Israel.
Since becoming the first American pope in May, Leo XIV has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza, urging an end to the suffering of civilians. “From the Gaza Strip, we hear rising ever more insistently to the heavens, the cries of mothers and fathers who clutch the lifeless bodies of their children,” he said in an earlier appeal.
His latest condemnation also extends to ongoing conflicts in Sudan and Ukraine, where international law continues to be flouted with impunity.
The pontiff’s words highlight growing frustration over the failure of global institutions to uphold justice and protect vulnerable populations.
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