Vatican, Feb 17, 2026: Addressing the participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Pope Leo XIV stressed that in a world increasingly consumed by conflict, greater commitment is needed to safeguard life, promote health, and confront inequalities through a renewed understanding of the common good.
Speaking at the Vatican on 16 February, the Pope warned of the devastating effects of modern warfare, particularly on civilians. “Wars that impact civilian structures, including hospitals, constitute the most grave attacks that human hands can make against life and public health,” he said.
He noted that global conflicts are consuming vast economic, technological, and organisational resources in the production of weapons and military equipment. “In a world scarred by conflicts, which consume enormous economic, technological, and organizational resources in the production of arms and other types of military equipment, it has never been more important to dedicate time, people, and expertise to safeguarding life and health.”
The Assembly, held in Rome on 16–17 February, focuses on the theme “Healthcare for all: Sustainability and equity.”
Reflecting on the theme, the Pope highlighted the gap between declarations and reality when it comes to health equity. “It is often said that life and health are equally fundamental values for all, but this statement is hypocritical if, at the same time, we ignore the structural causes and policies that determine inequalities,” he said.
“Despite declarations and statements to the contrary, all lives are not equally respected, and health is neither protected nor promoted in the same way for everyone.”
He explained that the health conditions of communities are shaped by social and environmental policies affecting income, education, and living conditions. Differences in life expectancy and quality of healthcare across countries and social groups reveal significant global disparities.
Emphasising interdependence, the Pope recalled how the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the link between individual and collective health. He said responsibility extends beyond treating diseases and ensuring access to care; it also requires addressing the complex combination of social, environmental, and political factors that influence wellbeing.
He compared this effort to assembling a mosaic, where disciplines such as medicine, politics, ethics, and management must work together to find solutions. Rather than focusing on immediate profit, he urged leaders to prioritise what benefits everyone in the long term.
Promoting the concept of “one health,” the Pope stressed the environmental dimension of healthcare and the interdependence of all forms of life. “One health” can serve as “a basis for a global, multidisciplinary, and integrated approach to health issues,” he said, reminding participants that “human life is incomprehensible and unsustainable without other creatures.”
In practical terms, this approach calls for integrating health considerations into all public policies, including transport, housing, agriculture, employment, and education.
To advance this vision, the Pope called for a renewed commitment to the common good, warning that it risks becoming abstract if detached from real relationships and solidarity within society. The common good, a central principle of Catholic social teaching, must be rooted in fostering bonds among people.
He urged a rediscovery of care as a fundamental attitude — expressed through support and closeness to others — recognising the shared vulnerability of every human being.
Only in this way, he said, can societies develop sustainable healthcare systems capable of meeting growing needs amid limited resources and restoring trust in medicine and healthcare professionals despite misinformation and scepticism.
Concluding, Pope Leo XIV reiterated his appeal for stronger international and multilateral cooperation to prevent conflicts and reject the “mindset of force”, a principle that should also guide supranational organisations working to protect and promote health worldwide.
Courtesy: Vatican News
