A senior Vatican official has criticized the European Union, accusing it of applying double standards in the enforcement of international law, where political and economic interests, according to him, are taking precedence over universal principles.
According to a report by Politico, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, made the remarks during the opening of a closed-door meeting convened by Pope Leo, where cardinals from around the world are discussing war and the role of the Catholic Church in modern conflicts.
The extraordinary meeting focuses on what the Pope has described as a “global culture of power,” which he says is fueling today’s wars. One of the key topics under discussion is a potential revision of the traditional Catholic doctrine of the “just war.”
During his speech, Fernández said many governments interpret moral and legal norms in line with political interests, abandoning universal standards.
“If a country is considered an enemy, it is condemned as undemocratic and faces sanctions. But if it is an ally, violations of freedom of expression, human rights abuses, or lack of democracy are often overlooked,” the cardinal stated.
Referring to the European Union, he said the bloc has imposed sanctions on some countries while financially and militarily supporting others, without responding equally to other conflicts that, in his view, have caused even greater harm to civilians.
“These contradictions show that, in practice, decisions are driven by the political and economic interests of different regions of the world. There is no longer a stable framework of truth and values,” he said.
Fernández also criticized the expanding interpretation of legitimate self-defense, citing Russia, the United States, and other powers that, according to him, have used it to justify military interventions from Ukraine to the Middle East.
He warned that even the Catholic doctrine of “just war” has been misused to justify unjust conflicts and called for its narrow interpretation while rejecting the concept of preventive war.
According to a summary published by the Vatican after the discussions, many participating cardinals supported moving beyond the traditional doctrine of “just war.”
