Pope Leo issued a scathing critique of global military priorities on Thursday, describing the current surge in European rearmament-which grew last year by the highest amount since the end of the Cold War-as a "betrayal of diplomacy."

This surge comes amid pressure from US President Donald Trump. The Pope urged university students to stop using the term “defense spending,” viewing it as a misleading label for rearmament. He described the global state as being ‘maimed by wars,” emphasizing the human and moral destruction caused by conflict.

The remarks come during a period of friction with President Trump, sparked by the Pope’s recent criticisms of the war in Iran.

“Let us not ​call 'defense' a rearmament that increases tensions and insecurity, impoverishes investments in education and ​health, betrays trust in diplomacy, and enriches elites who care nothing for the common good,” said the pontiff.

According to Reuters, European defense spending rose 14% in 2025, reaching $864 billion. This increase is driven by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and rearmament by NATO members. 

Donald Trump has pressured European allies to increase defense budgets, implementing an executive order that prioritizes US weapon sales to countries with higher military spending.

Pope Leo, speaking at Rome’s Sapienza University, warned against the “inhumane evolution” of warfare. He cited conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran as examples of how new technologies, specifically AI, lead to a “spiral of annihilation.”

While addressing Europe’s largest university, the Pope urged the youth to avoid the traps of narrow ideologies and nationalism, advocating instead for a more open and global perspective.

In addition, the pope pleaded: “Together with me and with many brothers and sisters, be artisans of true peace.”