Vatican accuses EU of double standards on war

Key Points:

• The Vatican's doctrinal chief, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, criticized the European Union for selectively applying international law and sanctions based on political and economic interests rather than universal moral principles.
• Pope Leo XIV convened a closed-door conference of cardinals to address the "culture of power" driving modern conflicts and to reconsider the traditional Catholic doctrine of just war, which he believes has been misused to justify military actions.
• Fernández condemned the broad interpretation of legitimate self-defense used by countries like Russia and the United States to justify interventions, advocating for a stricter understanding that rejects preventive war.
• The conference revealed significant support among cardinals for moving beyond the traditional just war doctrine, signaling potential changes in Church teaching on warfare and self-defense.
• Pope Leo XIV emphasized the ongoing nature of the debate and committed to reexamining the Church's stance on legitimate self-defense with theological and pastoral rigor in response to evolving global conflicts.