Guglielmo Gallone – Vatican
The moral role of the United States of America in confronting evil in the world and in building a just peace has been reduced to partisan categories that support polarization and destructive policies. This is the essence of the message announced today by Cardinals: Blase Joseph Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, and Joseph William Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, contained in a joint declaration in which they outline a moral vision for American foreign policy.
Threats Resulting from Polarization and Destructive Policies
The text refers to the fact that with the advent of the new year, “the United States has entered the deepest and most turbulent debate on the moral foundations of America’s actions in the world since the end of the Cold War.” Events in Venezuela, Ukraine, and Greenland, among others, are mentioned, which “have raised fundamental questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace.” In this context, the three prelates emphasize that “the balance between national interest and the common good is viewed in a highly polarized manner.” Moreover, “the moral role of the United States of America in confronting evil in the world, in defending the right to life and human dignity, and in promoting religious freedom is under scrutiny – they continue – and the building of a just and lasting peace, so essential for the good of humanity, is reduced to partisan categories that intensify polarization and destructive policies.”
The Direction Indicated by Pope Leo XIV
In their text, the three cardinals evaluate the international actions of the United States in light of the principles expressed by Pope Leo XIV in a speech delivered on January 9 to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. A passage is particularly quoted in which the Holy Father states that “the weakness of multilateralism is a cause of particular concern in the international arena” and that “diplomacy promoting dialogue and seeking consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, employed by individuals or groups of allies” – because “war has once again become ‘fashionable’ and the zeal for waging it is spreading” and “peace is sought through arms as a condition for asserting one’s own dominance.”
Cardinals Cupich, McElroy, and Tobin recognize these words as “a truly moral foundation for international relations” and “an enduring ethical compass for charting the course of American foreign policy in the years to come.” In agreement with the Pope’s words, the three hierarchs also emphasize “the necessity of international aid for the protection of the most fundamental aspects of human dignity, which are today threatened by the actions of wealthy nations aiming to limit or withdraw support for foreign humanitarian aid programs.” Because – as they note – “as pastors and citizens, we embrace this vision for establishing a truly moral foreign policy for our country.”
Renounce War as a Tool of Short-Sighted National Interests
Hence comes the final appeal of the three cardinals. “Let us strive to build a true, just, and lasting peace – that peace which Jesus proclaimed in the Gospel. Let us renounce war as a tool of short-sighted national interests and declare that military action can only be considered as a last resort in extreme situations, and not as a customary tool of state policy. Let us pursue a foreign policy that respects and promotes the right to human life, religious freedom, and the upliftment of human dignity worldwide – especially through economic aid.” They conclude: “the debate in our country on the moral foundations of American policy is today afflicted by polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests.”
