The Vatican celebrates 60 years of Nostra aetate.
A Rome of stone, light, and prayer
On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, the stones of the Colosseum seemed to breathe differently. Bathed in the golden light of evening, in this Rome where everything speaks of empire and glory, another language was heard: that of dialogue, peace, and fraternity. On a stage erected before the Arch of Constantine, a few steps from the amphitheater emblematic of ancient battles, Pope Leo XIV advanced slowly, accompanied by representatives of the world's great religious traditions. Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians of various denominations: all the colors of faith seemed to converge that evening around a single heartfelt plea.
«Enough of wars, with their painful trail of death, destruction, and exile,» the Pope declared in a firm voice, his words echoing in the meditative silence of thousands. Then he added the phrase that set the tone for the entire celebration: «War is never holy.»
It was the 60th anniversary of Nostra aetate, The declaration of the Second Vatican Council, which in 1965 overturned centuries of misunderstandings between religions, was also a reminder that the Gospel, more than ever, calls for peace, dialogue, and mutual understanding.
Nostra aetate, a turning point of the 20th century
To understand what this evening of October 29th means, we must go back to the genesis of Nostra aetate. Published on October 28, 1965, during the Second Vatican Council, the declaration known by its Latin name meaning "In our time" was an unprecedented event in the history of the Church.
Until that time, mistrust between Christians and other religions was often rooted in centuries of polemics, mutual ignorance, and even violence. The council, convened by John XXIII, sought to open the Church wide to allow the world's perspective to circulate, without renouncing the Catholic faith but by renewing the universal hope of fraternity.
Nostra aetate It initially had a limited objective: to improve relations with Judaism. But under the impetus of numerous bishops, theologians, and diplomats of the Holy See, the text expanded to address all the major religions. It affirmed that in each there were "rays of truth," that every sincere quest for God deserves respect, and that war in the name of God disfigures the faith.
This idea, revolutionary at the time, resonates even more strongly today in a world fractured by ideological and religious violence.
Leo XIV, an heir of the council
Elected in 2024, Leo XIV quickly placed his pontificate under the banner of interreligious dialogue and the safeguarding of human dignity. Aged 68, this pope of Argentinian origin is often compared to John XXIII for his warm simplicity and his penchant for direct contact. His first encyclicals, Fraternitas Mundi And Pacem Veram, renewed the call for a peace built on truth and justice.
During his general audience on October 22, Leo XIV had already prepared hearts for this commemoration of the council. He had recalled how Nostra aetate Current reality: "Where we truly listen to one another, God allows himself to be recognized between the words. Where we are suspicious of one another, God withdraws."«
His gesture at the foot of the Colosseum was therefore far from a mere diplomatic ritual. It was, in his own words, "a prayer against oblivion." Oblivion of what the 20th century was, marked by so many wars waged in the name of nations, ideologies, or even God. Oblivion of what Vatican II meant: that no faith can justify hatred.
Rome, a theatre of hope
Around Leo XIV, on the blue stage erected by the Community of Sant'Egidio, stood men and women from all corners of the world: the Chief Rabbi of Rome, imams from North Africa, Buddhist monks from Japan, a Hindu swami from Kerala, and even representatives of secular peace movements. Choirs of children, dressed in white, sang simple songs—not liturgical but universal, melodies about light and reconciliation.
The world's media were there, but the ceremony didn't feel like a grand spectacle. Rather, it was a suspended moment. Applause was sparse, giving way to the silence of prayer. That silence, the Pope said, is more powerful than slogans.
He then invited everyone to observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims of all wars, regardless of their religion or nation. In that silence, one felt that the place—a symbol of imperial power and ancient violence—suddenly became a fragile sanctuary of humanity.
The message: "War is never holy"«
Leo XIV felt compelled to clarify his statement, already widely repeated: "War is never holy." He said that war destroys not only human lives, but also the capacity of consciences to discern good. "A war can be called just, in the sense of the necessary defense of the innocent. But it will never be holy. For God does not will the death of man."«
This absolute rejection of holy war, even in religious discourse, echoes the Pope's recent calls to reform theological mindsets that justify violence. He quoted Nostra Aetate: "The Church exhorts her children to recognize, preserve, and promote the spiritual and moral goods found in others."«
From this perspective, war is not only a moral failing but a spiritual bankruptcy. And when it cloaks itself in the name of God, it becomes blasphemy. This is what Leo XIV summed up simply: "Where one kills in the name of God, God weeps."«
Dialogue, not syncretism
However, the Pope was careful not to blur the lines of the Christian faith. He did not present Nostra aetate like a fusion of religions, but also like a call to encounter in truth. "Dialogue does not mean mixing," he reminded them. "It means approaching the other while maintaining a love of truth."«
For Leo XIV, dialogue was neither weak tolerance nor relativism, but courage. The courage to listen to what God brings forth elsewhere. He added, addressing believers of other traditions: «We may be different, but walk together toward peace.»
His message echoes that of the council, which already invited Catholics to enter into respectful relationships with Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and all wisdom traditions. At a time of heightened identity tensions, this message has the freshness of a mountain breeze.
Actions speak louder than words
If the evening of October 29th made a lasting impression, it was above all because of its simplicity. No excessive protocol, no endless speeches. Leo XIV preferred gestures: sitting at the same level as the other delegates, praying silently with his eyes closed, placing a flame at the foot of a stylized cross and a Star of David intertwined with a golden crescent.
Each representative read, in their own language, a short text about peace: a verse from the Quran on mercy, a Jewish prayer for the peace of Jerusalem, an excerpt from the Buddhist Dhammapada, a Hindu invocation to light. Together, these voices formed a mosaic of hope.
At the end, the Pope invited the children present to release doves and floating lanterns. The crowd sang, not to celebrate a victory, but to express an inner openness: that of a world weary of division.
The spirit of Sant'Egidio, guardian of dialogue
The event would not have taken place without the Community of Sant'Egidio, founded in Rome in 1968 by Andrea Riccardi. This lay movement has always embodied the legacy of Nostra aetate. Present in more than 70 countries, the community works to mediate conflicts, support refugees and promote interreligious dialogue.
It was this organization that, in the 1980s and 1990s, held the famous Assisi meetings with John Paul II and representatives of other religions. In 2025, it continues to be a living laboratory of fraternity. "We believe that peace is contagious," its president, Marco Impagliazzo, likes to say.
For the members of Sant'Egidio, organizing this vigil at the foot of the Colosseum has a symbolic meaning: where Christians were martyred, where history has glorified war, the new humanity learns to celebrate peace.
Peace as an inner conversion
Pope Leo XIV often emphasized one point: peace does not originate primarily from treaties or institutions, but from the heart. "Peace is not built with strategies, but with conversions," he said. This phrase has been echoed in numerous homilies around the world since the vigil in Rome.
Because the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Nostra aetate It aims not only to recall a text, but to inspire inner change. Each person is invited to ask themselves: how does my faith serve peace? What am I doing to break free from the cycle of fear and violence?
From this perspective, Leo XIV invites us to rediscover prayer as a place of dialogue with God and with others. "To pray for those whom we do not understand is already to begin to love them," he confided to an Italian journalist.
The challenges of the 21st century
Sixty years after Vatican II, the world is very different. Modern wars are often asymmetrical, without clear fronts or predictable ends. Conflicts simmering beneath nationalism or identity-based hatreds continue to flare up. Social media, by spreading hate speech, sometimes becomes a virtual battleground.
In this context, the message of Nostra aetate It has taken on an unexpected urgency. Dialogue is no longer a spiritual luxury, but a matter of collective survival. The Pope, moreover, addressed political leaders: "War is always easier than peace. That is why we must choose peace more often."«
He proposed that major religions form a "World Council of Prayer for Peace," a permanent forum for mediation and dialogue. This project, still in its early stages, embodies the idea that believers can play an active role in conflict resolution.
Testimonies from around the world
No sooner had the vigil ended than reactions poured in from all sides. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, sent a fraternal message praising "the prophetic courage of a pope who speaks on behalf of all humanity." On the Muslim side, Al-Azhar University in Cairo issued a statement reminding everyone that "peace is the name of God, and true believers cannot destroy it.".
The Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem also praised Leo XIV's gesture: "It reminds all the children of Abraham that faith is not synonymous with domination." In India, many Hindu leaders participated in synchronized ceremonies at the same time, lighting lamps as a sign of brotherhood.
Young Catholics present in Rome expressed their emotion: "We can't leave here and continue to think that war is inevitable," said Lucia, a theology student. Another added: "Tonight, I understood that peace is not a sweet dream. It's a decision."«
The revival of a spiritual language
The pontificate of Leo XIV is distinguished by a deliberately simple way of speaking about great things. Where other popes might have evoked theological concepts, he preferred to speak of "human voices, of tears, of peace to be built each morning." This direct approach reflects the spirit of the Council: to speak to humanity today with the words of today.
In his recent speeches, Leo XIV has often emphasized that Nostra aetate had opened up a new spiritual grammar. We learn that believing is not about excluding, but about welcoming. That truth, far from being a fortress, is a horizon that calls for dialogue.
He invites the faithful to train themselves in this grammar of dialogue: learning to listen before responding, learning to read the sacred texts of other religions with respect, learning to collaborate in acts of solidarity.
Heritage and the future
As the world becomes increasingly fragile in the face of wars and climate change, the Vatican's message on its 60th anniversary resonates more powerfully than ever. "Wars pollute souls as much as they pollute the land," Leo XIV stated gravely. The link between spiritual peace and human ecology becomes central to his vision of the future.
The Holy See is also preparing a major interreligious synod for 2026, focused on "Faith, Peace and the Care of Creation." The idea is simple: to show that everything is connected, that peace with God comes through peace with the Earth and with others.
Many Catholic universities and interreligious research centers are also preparing to republish files on Nostra aetate, for the benefit of younger generations who are often poorly informed about its importance.
A prayer in Rome, a call to the world
The vigil at the Colosseum will remain a powerful image: that of a pope standing between monuments representing two thousand years of history, extending his arms towards representatives of all religions. But for many participants, the most beautiful memory was not in the gesture, nor in the cameras. It was in that atmosphere of peace, almost palpable.
«There is always an alternative to war,» the Pope said. And he repeated it at length, gazing up at the stars visible above the Arch of Constantine. Then he murmured, «We are made for light, not for bombs.»
When history meets faith
Sixty years after the council, Rome seems to be telling the world once again that true greatness no longer lies in conquest, but in reconciliation. History, here, illuminates faith: where the triumphant generals of old paraded their armies, now believers of all traditions advance together, bearing a message of hope.
There is something almost Eucharistic in this symbolic reversal: the passage from violence to communion. The bread of the world is no longer plunder, but shared relationship. Perhaps this, at its core, is the heart of the message of Nostra aetate : to sanctify life, and disarm the heart.
A phrase for our time
«War is never holy»: this phrase alone encapsulates an entire spiritual and political legacy. It serves as a reminder that true holiness is not found in the struggle against others, but in the inner battle against hatred. In the year 2025, as the world once again weathers storms, it acts as a compass.
Many centuries ago, Saint Francis of Assisi was already praying: "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace." Sixty years later Nostra aetate, Pope Leo XIV took up this prayer in his own way, in a modern and universal language, inviting everyone to become, wherever they are, an artisan of this peace.
And Rome, that evening, seemed to have heard him.
