In a direct address to the global diplomatic community, Pope Leo XIV singled out the crisis in Myanmar for special concern, calling for “paths of peace and inclusive dialogue” and guaranteed humanitarian access in the conflict-ravaged nation.

The Pope’s remarks were delivered on Friday, January 9, 2026, to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See. Msgr. Andrea Ferrante, the papal representative to Myanmar, shared the text of the address, which highlighted Myanmar’s compounded suffering.

“My thoughts turn in particular to the grave humanitarian and security crisis afflicting Myanmar, which was further aggravated by the devastating earthquake last March,” the Pope stated. He appealed with “renewed intensity” for courageous choices toward peace and for ensuring “fair and timely access to humanitarian aid for everyone.”

Linking Myanmar’s plight to a global failure of peacebuilding, the Pope critiqued the persistent belief that peace can only be achieved through force and deterrence. “While war is content with destruction, peace requires continuous and patient efforts of construction as well as constant vigilance,” he said.

His address then broadened to issue a stark warning about a potential new arms race. He expressed particular concern over the expiration of the New START nuclear treaty in February and the danger of developing “ever more sophisticated new weapons, also by means of artificial intelligence.”

The Pope called for “appropriate and ethical management” of AI, alongside regulatory frameworks focused on “the protection of freedom and human responsibility.” For the people of Myanmar, the Pope’s words represent a significant elevation of their struggle on the world stage, framing their need for aid and dialogue as both a pressing humanitarian imperative and part of a broader moral call for global peacebuilding.