POT POURRI

Pope calls for upholding migrant rights, international law

MADRID, June 8: In a historic first address by a pope to Spain’s parliament, Pope Leo XIV called for greater respect for migrants, international law and human dignity, while urging political leaders to pursue peace through dialogue rather than conflict. Speaking before Spain’s legislature, Leo said a “moral renewal” was needed in public life to protect the most vulnerable, including migrants, the unborn and those facing hardship.
The address marked a significant moment for the Catholic Church in Spain, a country that has become increasingly secular since the end of the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Despite declining religious observance, lawmakers from across the political spectrum gave the pope a standing ovation.
Addressing growing global tensions, Leo renewed his calls for peace as Israel and Iran exchanged strikes, warning that disputes should be resolved through diplomacy and international law. He also expressed concern over rising military spending in Europe and urged strict ethical oversight of artificial intelligence-powered weapons systems to ensure life-and-death decisions remain under human control.
The pope highlighted Spain’s historical contribution to concepts of international law through the 16th-century School of Salamanca while acknowledging that both society and the Church had failed at times to uphold those principles, including during the eras of colonial conquest and slavery.
A major focus of the speech was migration. Leo condemned human trafficking and called for stronger international cooperation to address its causes. He urged governments to provide safe and legal migration pathways, ensure respectful treatment and integration of migrants, and create conditions that allow people to remain in their home countries rather than flee due to war, poverty or climate-related challenges.
The pope’s message aligned in several respects with the policies of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose government has defended immigration on both economic and humanitarian grounds. Leo also appealed for an end to political polarization, warning that democratic pluralism should not descend into constant attacks on political opponents. He stressed that lasting peace cannot be achieved through force alone, declaring that weapons may silence conflicts temporarily but cannot build a durable peace. (AP)