Papal Rejection of Just War Theory in Relation to the Iranian Conflict
教宗拒絕將「正義戰爭」理論應用於伊朗衝突
Introduction
Pope Leo XIV has formally stated that the ongoing military conflict in Iran does not align with the criteria for a 'just war' under Catholic doctrine.
教宗利奧十四世正式表示，伊朗目前進行的軍事衝突不符合天主教教義中關於「正義戰爭」的準則。
Main Body
The pontiff's position is predicated upon the assertion that traditional just war theory is an obsolete framework, rendered inadequate by the advent of contemporary weaponry and the subsequent escalation of destructive capacities. This doctrinal shift was codified in the encyclical 'Magnifica Humanitas,' which advocates for the prioritization of diplomacy, dialogue, and forgiveness over military force, particularly when such force results in disproportionate civilian casualties. The institutionalization of this perspective was further advanced during a consistory convened by the Pope on June 26-27.
教宗的立場是基於一個論點，即傳統的正義戰爭理論已是一個過時的框架，由於現代武器的出現以及隨之而來的破壞力提升，使其不再適用。這一教義上的轉變在通諭《偉大的人類》（Magnifica Humanitas）中被正式紀錄，其中主張優先考慮外交、對話與原諒，而非軍事武力，尤其是在此類武力導致不成比例的平民傷亡時。這一觀點的制度化，在教宗 6 月 26 日至 27 日召集的樞機會議中進一步得到推進。
This theological stance has precipitated a diplomatic friction between the Holy See and the United States administration. Vice President JD Vance previously utilized just war theory to validate military actions against Tehran, suggesting the pontiff exercise caution regarding theological interpretations. Furthermore, President Donald Trump characterized the Pope's foreign policy posture as 'weak' and 'terrible' following the pontiff's condemnation of the President's rhetoric concerning the potential eradication of Iranian civilization. Conversely, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni characterized the U.S. President's remarks toward the Pope as unacceptable.
這一神學立場導致了聖座與美國政府之間的外交摩擦。副總統 JD Vance 先前利用正義戰爭理論來證明對德黑蘭採取軍事行動的正當性，並建議教宗在神學解釋方面應審慎行事。此外，在教宗譴責總統關於可能根除伊朗文明的言論後，總統川普形容教宗的外交政策立場「軟弱」且「糟糕」。相反，義大利總理喬治亞·梅洛尼認為美國總統對教宗的評論是不可接受的。
Beyond the Iranian theater, the pontiff expressed concern regarding the protracted conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing the necessity of continued negotiations despite the refusal of President Vladimir Putin to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Additionally, the Pope noted the complexity of the security situation in Lebanon, maintaining communication with regional religious leaders following a November visit.
除於伊朗戰場之外，教宗亦對烏克蘭持續的衝突表示關注，強調儘管普丁總統拒絕與澤倫斯基總統會面，但仍有必要繼續進行談判。此外，教宗指出黎巴嫩的安全局勢十分複雜，在 11 月訪問後，他一直與當地的宗教領袖保持溝通。
Conclusion
Pope Leo XIV continues to advocate for a transition from military intervention to diplomatic resolution across multiple global conflict zones.
教宗利奧十四世繼續倡導在全球多個衝突地區將軍事干預轉向外交解決方案。
Vocabulary Learning
The Architecture of Institutional Formalism
To move from B2 to C2, a student must stop treating 'formal English' as a set of polite phrases and start treating it as a strategic layer of abstraction. The provided text is a masterclass in Institutional Formalism—the use of language to distance the speaker from the emotional or political volatility of the subject matter.
◈ The Mechanism of 'Nominalization' as a Power Tool
Observe how the text avoids simple verbs in favor of complex nouns to create an aura of objectivity and permanence:
- "The institutionalization of this perspective..." (Instead of: "The Pope made this a rule")
- "...precipitated a diplomatic friction" (Instead of: "This caused a fight")
At the C2 level, we call this Semantic Density. By turning actions (verbs) into entities (nouns), the writer removes the 'human' element, transforming a political disagreement into a structural phenomenon. This is essential for high-level diplomatic writing, academic papers, and legal briefs.
◈ Lexical Precision: The 'Surgical' Vocabulary
C2 mastery is defined by the ability to choose the exact word that carries the necessary theological or political weight. Compare these pairings:
| B2 Equivalent | C2 Institutional Term | Nuance Added |
|---|---|---|
| Based on | Predicated upon | Implies a logical foundation or a formal premise. |
| Outdated | Obsolete framework | Suggests the entire system is no longer functional. |
| Long | Protracted | Specifically refers to something drawn out beyond the usual limit. |
| Written | Codified | Implies the transformation of an idea into an official law or code. |
◈ Syntactic Sophistication: The 'Subsequent' Pivot
Notice the phrase: "...rendered inadequate by the advent of contemporary weaponry and the subsequent escalation of destructive capacities."
This is a cascading clause. Rather than using three short sentences, the writer links the cause (advent of weaponry) to the effect (escalation) using a single adjective (subsequent). This creates a seamless flow of logic that signals high intellectual control. To replicate this, stop using 'and then' or 'so'; instead, use adjectives to link temporal events within a single complex noun phrase.