Reprinted from Bracing Views with the author’s permission.
There is a famine of peace in the world today. I came across that phrase, “famine of peace,” in an article in the New Yorker that reported on a papal envoy sent to advocate for a truce and diplomacy to President Joe Biden. Biden, a practicing Catholic, gave the envoy a hearing, but as yet I’ve heard no change from the White House with respect to sending more weapons to Ukraine and maximum support for the war effort.
Pope Francis, working for peace, is exactly what I’d expect from Christ’s representative here on earth. Indeed, it is what I’d expect from all Christians everywhere. Yet we continue to have a glut of war in the world, with plenty of war pigs feeding at the trough.
I’m a lapsed Catholic, but I have nothing but respect when the Church does its best to embody, obey, and manifest Christ’s two commandments: love God, love thy neighbor. Being faithful to these commandments is everything for Christians.
War is a terrible sin that enables and empowers so many other sins. Meanwhile, a famine of peace and a glut of war means terrible suffering for the world’s most vulnerable. War is thus to be avoided or averted under nearly all circumstances; indeed, Christ implored us to turn the other cheek when we are struck.
I’ve read enough “just war” theory to see how almost any war can be twisted as “defensive” and “necessary.” And I believe in rare circumstances the evil of war may be necessary to stop or prevent even worse evils, e.g. World War II put a stop to Nazi domination and the enslavement and massacre of millions of people, most especially Jews and gypsies, among other “undesirables” and “lesser humans” according to Nazi ideology.
The Pope in those days, Pius XII, did not speak forcibly enough to condemn the crimes of the Nazis. In Francis it is good to have a pope who’s willing to speak of today’s famine of peace. All Christians everywhere should look within to consider why peace is dying and war is thriving. Under these conditions, if we fail to act, do we dare even call ourselves “Christian”?
William J. Astore is a retired lieutenant colonel (USAF). He taught history for fifteen years at military and civilian schools. He writes at Bracing Views.
Joe Biden will not listen to Pope Francis. He will continue the war in Ukraine indefinitely although no US Troops are fighting in the war. He will continue the wars in Iraq and Syria indefinitely and drone strikes and secret wars that are even more secret than Reagan’s war in Nicaragua.
Biden may have ended the war in Afghanistan which was the first war in the 21st Century but he continued the other wars and provoked Russia into starting a war in Ukraine and is creating more tension with China by aiding Taiwan.
Sadly, the Pope is somehow too peaceful for either of the war parties. Hopefully he will have some influence on Europe and the global south, but his pleas will fall silent on the Empire.
Here we have two purportedly “Christian” nations fighting each other. And a third watching in the wings, laughing rather than trying to stop the fight. Addressing this question to Patriarch War Pig in Russia, Vlad the Bad, Zel the Pill, & Uncle Joe in DC, who would Jesus kill?
Do you think you’re really following anything at all of his teachings by making war on each other? How is this justified? The brotherhood of Christ on Earth won’t be too pleased with your current response.
Surely this can’t be the first time he asked for peace but just furtherance of a constant plea of his.