Pope Francis has told the United States and North Korea to deescalate their nuclear tensions, saying their ongoing dispute over weapons testing has become “too hot” and suggesting they might ask a third country to intervene and act as a mediator. He was talking to the media on the papal plan returning to Rome from Egypt.
The pope also warned U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that a nuclear war would destroy “a big part of humanity.”
“I call on them… as I have called on leaders of various places, to work towards resolving problems through the path of diplomacy,” he said. “There are many facilitators in the world,” Francis said, offering the country Norway as an example. “There are mediators that offer themselves. There are countries… ready to help.”
Francis was responding April 29 to a question on what he wanted to say to Trump and Kim following weeks of escalating tensions between their two countries. “A prolonged war would destroy … a big part of humanity,” he warned. “Let us stop ourselves. Let us search for a diplomatic solution.”
On April 28, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told the U.N. Security Council that North Korea’s continuing development of its nuclear missile program could lead to “catastrophic consequences.” Kim responded April 29 with the test firing of another ballistic missile, the fourth since March.
That test came as the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group arrived in waters near the Korean peninsula. North Korea earlier threatened to attack the carrier should it take any provocative actions.
Francis singled out the United Nations as needing to take more leadership in the situation, saying the abilities of the international organization had been “watered-down.” “I believe that the U.N. has the duty to reassume leadership a bit,” said the pope.
Do you think that the pope would really want Norway to negotiate a settlement between the United States and North Korea? Or would he rather have the Vatican involved? Perhaps, if Norway or some other “neutral” nation does get involved, the Vatican will work all three nations to develop influence in all of them.
“By peace he shall destroy many.” Daniel 8:25