Pope Leo XIV warned Wednesday of the grave danger of a "new global arms race" as the New START nuclear weapons treaty between the United States and Russia reached its expiration, urging world leaders not to allow the agreement to lapse without a credible and effective alternative.
Speaking at the conclusion of his general audience at the Vatican, the pope recalled that the treaty — signed in 2010 by then-U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev — represented a significant step in limiting the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
"Tomorrow the New START treaty reaches its expiration," the pope said, noting that the agreement had helped contain strategic nuclear arsenals and strengthen international security. He called for "every constructive effort in favor of disarmament and mutual trust," insisting that the current international climate demands urgent action to prevent escalation.
The pope stressed that the world must abandon "the logic of fear and distrust" and instead embrace "a shared ethic capable of guiding decisions toward the common good and making peace a heritage safeguarded by all."
Without a replacement framework, he warned, the end of New START opens a period of growing uncertainty, raising alarms across the international community about the weakening of nuclear arms control mechanisms.
Prayers for Ukraine amid winter hardship
During the same audience, the pope also renewed his appeal for prayers for the people of Ukraine, who he said are being "harshly tested" by continued Russian bombardments, including attacks on energy infrastructure during the winter months.
Citing reports of severe cold and widespread shortages of electricity, heating, and water, he urged the faithful not to forget the suffering of civilians, particularly children, the elderly, and the most vulnerable. The pope expressed gratitude for solidarity initiatives organized by Catholic dioceses in Poland and other countries assisting the Ukrainian population.
Evangelization must speak to real lives
Earlier in his catechesis, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the Church's mission of evangelization, cautioning against the use of language that is "incomprehensible, poorly communicative, or anachronistic," which he said renders the proclamation of the Gospel ineffective.
When the Word of God becomes detached from the concrete lives, hopes, and sufferings of people, he explained, it loses its power to reach hearts. The pope encouraged the Church to adopt "creative methods" that allow the Gospel to take flesh in history.
Continuing his catechetical series on "Dei Verbum," the Second Vatican Council's constitution on divine revelation, the pope described Sacred Scripture as a "privileged space of encounter" where God continues to speak to men and women of every age.
He warned against both fundamentalist readings that ignore the human authors of Scripture and purely technical interpretations that deny its divine origin, emphasizing that a correct understanding must hold both dimensions together.
"The Gospel cannot be reduced to a merely philanthropic or social message," the pope said. "It is the joyful proclamation of the fullness of life and eternal life that God has given us in Jesus."
This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
