‘Just war’ has guided Catholic thinking on conflict for centuries – including criticism of Iran war

Just war theory, developed over centuries, focuses on six criteria for assessing whether a conflict is justified.

By: Valerie Morkevicius, Colgate University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 24, 2026

Words: 1,464

Last Updated: 3 months ago

Body Text Preview

By Valerie Morkevicius, Colgate University

Since the beginning of the Iran war, Pope Leo XIV has frequently called for peace, cautioning that the “delusion of omnipotence” makes military force seem preferable to diplomacy. Although U.S. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, criticized some of the pope’s comments, a growing choir of Catholic voices has criticized the conflict by invoking the concept of “just war” – an evolving tradition that has guided Christian thinking …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us