Pope Leo XIV Condemns War, Resource Exploitation on Chernobyl Anniversary

Pope Leo XIV condemned world leaders who promote war and exploit natural resources, likening them to thieves who rob humanity of a peaceful future, during his weekly address following the Angelus prayer in Vatican City on Sunday.

The pontiff's remarks coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which Ukraine commemorated the same day. Speaking after his return from a 10-day tour of four African nations, the first American-born pope described the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in northern Ukraine as a lasting mark on humankind's collective conscience. The catastrophe, triggered by a flawed reactor design and human error during a safety test, released massive radioactive material, causing immediate deaths, long-term health issues including cancer, and the evacuation of tens of thousands from surrounding areas. It remains the worst nuclear disaster in history and led to global improvements in nuclear safety standards.

"It remains a warning over the use of ever more powerful technologies," Leo XIV said. He expressed hope that "at all decision-making levels, wisdom and responsibility always prevail, so that atomic power can always be...