Pope Leo criticized rising military spending amid ongoing wars during a news conference aboard the papal plane on Monday (September 28).

"Few people are getting extremely rich from an industry that promotes war, when these billions upon billions of euros or dollars could help solve problems like world hunger, housing, unemployment situations," Leo told reporters.

The pope added that it was the Church's responsibility to invite leaders to dialogue and find ways to resolve problems without engaging in wars "that no longer make any sense."

Leo said he was not aware of 87-year-old Spanish pensioner Maricarmen Abascal, who was removed last week on a stretcher from her Madrid home of more than seven decades, but urged communities and leaders to find solutions to address housing problems.

"The housing problem facing many countries today is an issue that no single parish, diocese, or even the Church alone can resolve," he said.

"This presents a major challenge where we must also call on political leaders and public authorities to find lasting solutions," the Pope added.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

IN AIR (SEPTEMBER 28, 2026)

1. POPE LEO STANDING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE ABOARD PAPAL PLANE

2. LEO LOOKING ON

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POPE LEO, SAYING:

"The first thing would be to emphasize, let's say, the principles of the Church's social doctrine, where we seek not to promote violence, hatred, and armaments. The dangers that exist in the world today, including some world leaders who are once again starting to talk about nuclear weapons, and wars that are becoming increasingly destructive, especially regarding the issue of human life."

4. LEO LISTENING TO REPORTER’S QUESTION

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POPE LEO, SAYING:

"Continuing to arm, to spend on that massive military industry, which has been going on for many decades now, not just since last year, for five years now, it has continued to promote this, let's say, um, military spending. Few people are getting extremely rich from an industry that promotes war, when these billions upon billions of euros or dollars could help solve problems like world hunger, housing, unemployment situations, etc., etc. Everyone is looking for a voice that can offer another path, one that is not 'let's spend more on weapons,' which only fosters more and more tension that could result in the outbreak of another war, another conflict."

6. REPORTERS ABOARD PAPAL PLANE

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POPE LEO, SAYING:

"And we see that violence, that those powers that always seek to impose through force instead of engaging in dialogue and promoting negotiations over differences that naturally exist. Well, we are moving closer and closer to a war, or several wars. Conflicts like the ones we find in the world today. Right? I don't know about others. And it is not about being political or not political, but rather a voice that tries to promote the values of human dignity, the importance of life, the possibility of perhaps spending more on healthcare and education and less on weapons. I believe the Church has a responsibility to promote these values, continually inviting leaders like those of Russia, Ukraine, and other countries to come, sit down, dialogue, and seek ways to resolve problems without continuing these wars that no longer make any sense."

8. REPORTER ASKING OFF CAMERA QUESTION ON SPAIN’S HOUSING CRISIS

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POPE LEO, SAYING:

"I believe that is a good example where the Church as a community, or as human beings, as a community even for people without faith we have to seek fairer solutions so that these cases do not happen. I am not familiar with the case you are referring to, but it seems to me that it would be a case where the neighbours, the community, the parish, the diocese, or the State should step forward and say: how is it possible for a case like this to happen? What is wrong with the system that allows the case of an elderly woman, moreover, with a disability or some difficulty to be thrown out of her home?"

10. LEO LISTENING TO REPORTER’S QUESTION

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POPE LEO, SAYING:

"The Church frequently speaks out against the 'throwaway culture' and injustice, striving to awaken in everyone a deeper sense of humanity, one that is truly sensitive to the pain and suffering of others. The housing problem facing many countries today is an issue that no single parish, diocese, or even the Church alone can resolve. This presents a major challenge where we must also call on political leaders and public authorities to find lasting solutions."

12. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS