Pope Leo XIV addresses UNESCO in Paris

Pope Leo XIV addressed the UNESCO plenary session in Paris, calling war the most terrible human deed because it uses science to serve an inhuman will to destroy and kill. During his speech, the Pope urged the organization to become a place where humanity reflects on its history and future. He warned that without an ethical foundation based on the meaning of life, progress can become a destructive weapon and culture can degrade into ideology.

The Pope spoke to representatives of member states, observer organizations, the academic world, and civil society. He described life as a gift rather than a commodity and criticized modern forms of despotism, barbarism, and the dehumanization of people. He identified the protection of unborn children, people in war zones, migrants, the elderly, and those with physical or intellectual disabilities as essential ways to confirm respect for human dignity.

Addressing the role of education, the Pope noted that Catholic communities have operated schools and universities for centuries, even in remote and poor areas. He mentioned that the Holy See will celebrate its 75th anniversary of presence at UNESCO in 2027. He concluded that building a just world requires a commitment to the inalienable dignity of every human being.