Vatican doctrinal chief accuses EU of selective application of international law

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the Vatican's doctrinal chief, delivered a rare public critique of the European Union's foreign policy, accusing it of applying international law selectively and driven by political convenience rather than universal standards. Speaking at the opening of a closed-door conference convened by Pope Leo XIV to examine the doctrine of just war, Fernández argued that the EU sanctions some military invasions while providing aid and weapons to others, even when faced with more brutal conflicts.

Fernández stated that governments increasingly disregard human rights and democratic principles when dealing with allies, while condemning and sanctioning adversaries. He suggested that concerns often boil down to political and economic interests, eroding a stable framework of truth and values. The cardinal also criticized the broad interpretation of legitimate self-defense, citing Russia, the United States, and other powers for using such claims to justify military interventions from Ukraine to the Middle East.

He asserted that Catholic teaching on just war is manipulated to legitimize unjust conflicts and called for a stricter understanding of legitimate self-defense, rejecting the logic of preventive war. This stance is likely to deepen existing disagreements with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who has defended a broader reading of Catholic teaching on just war. Following discussions, the Vatican indicated that many cardinals agreed on the need to move beyond the traditional doctrine of just war. Pope Leo XIV concluded the conference by pledging to address the Church's teaching on legitimate self-defense with theological and pastoral rigor in light of contemporary conflicts.