The Vatican has strongly criticized Donald Trump and JD Vance for their position on the “just war” theory, highlighting that the doctrine was established “before drones” and is increasingly challenging to justify in modern warfare.
Andrea Tornielli, the Vatican’s editorial director, emphasized that the concept of “just war” originated centuries ago when battles were fought using swords, contrasting with today’s warfare employing advanced technology like drones.
Tornielli further noted the evolving nature of the teaching, acknowledging the growing complexity in asserting the existence of a ‘just war’ given the current realities of warfare.
The Vatican’s response followed JD Vance’s disagreement with Pope Leo’s assertion that God does not side with those engaged in warfare, citing a long-standing tradition of just war theory spanning over a millennium.
During a recent event at the University of Georgia, Vance expressed that while differing opinions on the justification of conflicts are valid, a critical assessment is necessary.
The exchange was triggered by Donald Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo as “weak on crime” and “detrimental to foreign policy” after the pontiff’s comments on the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Reflecting on modern warfare, Tornielli highlighted the moral dilemmas posed by contemporary conflicts, emphasizing the need for a deeper ethical consideration.
US Cardinal Robert McElroy, the archbishop of Washington, asserted that the US-Israeli military action in Iran did not meet the essential criteria for being morally justifiable.
These criteria include responding to an imminent threat, transparently articulating intentions, and ensuring that the benefits outweigh the harm caused by the conflict.
Vance challenged the notion that God does not support those who engage in warfare, citing historical examples such as the liberation of France and freeing prisoners from concentration camps by US troops.
In response to the criticism, Vance stressed the importance of theological discussions being well-grounded in truth, urging caution and accuracy in such matters.
In a separate development, Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image on his Truth Social platform, depicting himself alongside a figure resembling Jesus, amidst ongoing tensions with Pope Leo XIV over the US and Israeli military actions in Iran.
The image, posted by an account named “Irish for Trump,” portrays a Jesus-like figure embracing Trump, accompanied by a caption alluding to divine intervention in current societal revelations.
This follows a previous incident where Trump shared a similar image portraying himself as a Jesus-like figure, which he later removed due to widespread backlash across the political spectrum.
