The Vatican has strongly criticized Donald Trump and JD Vance for their views on the “just war” theory, stating that the concept was developed before the era of drones and is increasingly challenging to justify in modern warfare.
Andrea Tornielli, the Vatican’s editorial director, emphasized that the idea of “just war” originated centuries ago when battles were fought with swords, not advanced drones.
In response to Pope Leo’s assertion that God does not support war, Vance defended the long-standing tradition of just war theory during a recent event at the University of Georgia.
US Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington stated that the US-Israeli conflict with Iran did not meet the ethical criteria for a just war, including the absence of an imminent threat and unclear intentions.
Vance questioned the Pope’s theological stance on war, highlighting historical examples where military action had positive outcomes, such as the liberation of France from Nazi occupation.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump shared a controversial AI-generated image on Truth Social, depicting himself alongside a figure resembling Jesus, amidst ongoing tensions with Pope Leo XIV over criticism of the US-Israeli military actions in Iran.
The image, posted by the “Irish for Trump” account, portrays a Jesus-like figure standing next to Trump, with a caption suggesting divine intervention in current affairs.
Trump previously posted and deleted a similar image showing himself in a Jesus-like role, generating significant public backlash.