Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

The Magisterium condemns “the savagery of war” ^{1032Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 77: AAS 58 (1966), 1100; cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2307-2317.} and asks that war be considered in a new way.^{1033Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes,80: AAS 58 (1966), 1103-1104.} In fact, “it is hardly possible to imagine that in an atomic era, war could be used as an instrument of justice”.^{1034John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris: AAS 55 (1963), 291.} War is a “scourge” ^{1035Leo XIII, Address to the College of Cardinals: Acta Leonis XIII, 19 (1899), 270-272.} and is never an appropriate way to resolve problems that arise between nations, “it has never been and it will never be”,^{1036John Paul II, Meeting with Officials of the Roman Vicariate (17 January 1991): L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, 21 January 1991, p. 1; cf. John Paul II, Address to the Latin-Rite Bishops of the Arabian Peninsula (1 October 1990), 4: AAS 83 (1991), 475.} because it creates new and still more complicated conflicts.^{1037Cf. Paul VI, Address to Cardinals (24 June 1965): AAS 57 (1965), 643-644.} When it erupts, war becomes an “unnecessary massacre”,^{1038Benedict XV, Appeal to the Leaders of the Warring Nations (1 August 1917): AAS 9 (1917), 423.} an “adventure without return”^{1039John Paul II, Prayer for peace during General Audience (16 January 1991): Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, XIV, 1 (1991), 121.} that compromises humanity's present and threatens its future. “Nothing is lost by peace; everything may be lost by war”.^{1040Pius XII, Radio Message (24 August 1939): AAS 31 (1939) 334; John Paul II, Message for the 1993 World Day of Peace, 4: AAS 85 (1993), 433-434; cf. John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris: AAS 55 (1963), 288.} The damage caused by an armed conflict is not only material but also moral.^{1041Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes 79: AAS 58 (1966), 1102-1103.} In the end, war is “the failure of all true humanism”,^{1042John Paul II, Message for the 1999 World Day of Peace, 11: AAS 91 (1999), 385.} “it is always a defeat for humanity”: ^{1043John Paul II, Address to the Diplomatic Corps (13 January 2003), 4: L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, 15 January 2003, p. 3.} “never again some peoples against others, never again! ... no more war, no more war!” ^{1044Paul VI, Address to the General Assembly of the United Nations (4 October 1965), 5: AAS 57 (1965), 881.}

Seeking alternative solutions to war for resolving international conflicts has taken on tremendous urgency today, since “the terrifying power of the means of destruction — to which even medium and small-sized countries have access — and the ever closer links between the peoples of the whole world make it very difficult or practically impossible to limit the consequences of a conflict”.^{1045John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 51: AAS 83 (1991), 857.} It is therefore essential to seek out the causes underlying bellicose conflicts, especially those connected with structural situations of injustice, poverty and exploitation, which require intervention so that they may be removed. “For this reason, another name for peace is development. Just as there is a collective responsibility for avoiding war, so too there is a collective responsibility for promoting development”.^{1046John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 52: AAS 83 (1991), 858.}

States do not always possess adequate means to provide effectively for their own defence, from this derives the need and importance of international and regional organizations, which should be in a position to work together to resolve conflicts and promote peace, re-establishing relationships of mutual trust that make recourse to war unthinkable.^{1047Cf. John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris: AAS 55 (1963), 288-289.} “There is reason to hope ... that by meeting and negotiating, men may come to discover better the bonds that unite them together, deriving from the human nature which they have in common; and that they may also come to discover that one of the most profound requirements of their common nature is this: that between them and their respective peoples it is not fear which should reign but love, a love which tends to express itself in a collaboration that is loyal, manifold in form and productive of many benefits”.^{1048John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris: AAS 55 (1963), 291.}