A Pope should be ethically estopped from talking about tragic experiences of the 20th century in the context of aerial bombings, since the Vatican was a virtual Holocaust accessory by refusing to condemn the ongoing extermination of Jews and other populations. Allied air power was an indispensable factor in defeating Germany and Japan. We actually did something to address evil, while the Vatican held its tongue.

Of course, when the Vatican isn’t shutting up for its own safety, it is simply giving empty and futile advice. On January 11, 2026, Pope Leo (XIV, but who’s counting) condemned the escalating violence in Iran, Syria, and Ukraine, alluding to the executions of anti-government protests in Tehran and calling for “dialogue and peace.”

Dialogue and peace from religious fanatics who would want him dead, and a government that has been sowing terrorism for half a century! Good luck with that. Hey, but thanks for trying, Popey old boy, I’m sure your words had the mulluhs considering the evil of their ways.

Sure, let’s ban bombing! And while we’re at it, ban guns, knives, mines, battle ships, submarines, pestilence, violence, hunger, poverty and death. And hate! Gotta ban hate. And brutal governments. Surely we can pray them out of existence

Advocating completely impossible policies and laws is unethical no matter how tuneful and aspirational they are. The more revered and powerful the advocate for such virtue-signaling nonsense, the more unethical such demagoguery is. Such rhetoric wastes time and passion that need to be focused on real and practical solutions to solvable problems, It also deceives the gullible and under-educated into thinking such yummy pie in the sky is within reach. In the pantheon of asinine and irresponsible Papal whines, calling for air power to be “banned” should be enshrined close to the top. What authority would enforce such a ban? The United Nations? The World Court? The Pope?

No one ought to be taken seriously who makes such infantile arguments. They are fine for Beatles and ex-Beatle songs (“Love is all we need…” Right.) and aging hippies, but if there is any area that demands realism, it is international relations. Before John ran off to Yoko and started injecting sweet syrup into the blood stream of ignorant teenagers, a hit Off-Broadway musical review ended with a weepy cast bellowing, “If we only have love, we can melt all the guns and give a new world to our daughters and sons!” Great show, insulting finale.

They might as well have been singing, “There once was a man from Nantucket who kept all his cash in a bucket.”

I would think the head of the Roman Catholic Church would feel professionally obligated to do a bit better than that.

Apparently not.