Throughout history, the papacy and more specifically the position of the pope has intersected with political, cultural and social spheres. The papacy as an institution is characterized by the promotion of Catholic principles and values. In contemporary times, the Pope has remained an influential figure within global politics as the head of the Catholic Church, Bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City state. As of 2019, there are more than 1.34 billion Catholics worldwide with many that listen to the official statements and positions of the Pope. The Pope is not affiliated with any political party, but the positions made by the papacy have political and social ramifications. I believe that the Pope should make statements pertaining to politics due to his position within the Catholic Church and his advancement of human dignity, peace and a perpetual commitment to justice.
The Catholic values promoted by Pope Francis often go beyond the political sphere. Within various global conflicts, Pope Francis remained a neutral entity but has constantly promoted for human dignity and for peace to prevail. Earlier this March, Pope Francis was criticized regarding his public statement that suggested that the capital city of Kyiv, Ukraine, raise the “white flag” and instead negotiate peace with the government of Russia. Nearly 500,000 individuals have perished and been wounded in the greater Russo-Ukrainian War which began over a decade ago. The use of the “white flag” was interpreted by many as a call by the leader of the Catholic Church to surrender to the invading Russian forces in the country. Ukrainian civilians, elected officials and international allies of Ukraine have condemned the Pope’s comments about the violent conflict. Many Ukrainian elected officials and international allies have compared seeking negotiations with Russia to situations during World War II. After the original comment was made, a Vatican spokesperson clarified that Pope Francis was calling for an immediate cease-fire and peace negotiations when referring to raising the “white flag.” Unfortunately, these comments may have alienated the Catholic community within Ukraine. During this war, religious leaders in the country continue to promote the strong will of Ukrainian people and the sovereignty of the nation. Pope Francis emphasized the importance of human dignity regardless of national affiliation.
The Catholic principles of peace, justice and the protection of human life influence the papacy’s stance on global issues. Since Oct. 7, 2023, already, more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli occupying forces. Over 2 million people have been displaced because of the Israeli government’s destructive and violent campaign within the Gaza Strip. Communal places of worship for both Palestinian Christians and Muslims have been desecrated and violated by the conflict. Beginning in December 2023, the Pope has made various public statements condemning the conflict in Gaza and the utter disregard for people in Palestine. He specifically spoke against the attacks carried out on the compound of Gaza’s Holy Family Catholic Parish. In the statement, he stressed that a Catholic institution houses innocent families, children, the sick, clergy, the disabled and others devoted to the faith and are not terrorists. This came after the Israeli military forces had murdered a mother and her daughter and injured many more while they were relieving themselves in the parish’s bathrooms. Additionally, Pope Francis further explained that the actions carried out by the Israeli military and government were acts of terrorism. Since the statement, Pope Francis has continued to advocate for civilians in the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza as well as calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
The role of the Pope to be a voice in politics is critical. As the head of the enormous Catholic Church, the statements made by the Pope will have political, social and cultural ramifications regardless of the original intentions. The position of the papacy influences people around the world. Pope Francis has continued to emphasize the human dignity of innocent civilians above all else in violent conflicts. He has spent years championing social justice issues ranging from climate change to immigration and racism. The statements made by the Pope should be open to criticism, but they should not be condemned because of religious affiliation. The positions made on political and social issues are backed by the key Catholic doctrine which affirms the principles of peace, justice and commitment to the common good.
Indranil Kar, FCRH ’26, is a political science major and Arabic minor from St. Louis, Mo.