During a news conference aboard a plane on his way home…
![“During a news conference aboard a plane on his way home from Seoul on Monday, Francis was asked: "Do you approve [of] the American bombing?" The question was set up with a comment that the United States is "bombing the terrorists in Iraq, to prevent a genocide, to protect minorities, including…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/499/anonymous-1_way-home_during-a-news-conference-aboard-a-plane_1092689.jpg)
““During a news conference aboard a plane on his way home from Seoul on Monday, Francis was asked: "Do you approve [of] the American bombing?" The question was set up with a comment that the United States is "bombing the terrorists in Iraq, to prevent a genocide, to protect minorities, including Catholics." Francis avoided addressing details of the Iraq conflict, instead going into a more general discussion of Catholic theory and teaching on war. "In these cases where there is an unjust aggression, I can only say this: It is licit to stop the unjust aggressor. I underline the verb: stop. I do not say bomb, make war, I say stop by some means. With what means can they be stopped? These have to be evaluated. To stop the unjust aggressor is licit," he said, according to a transcript by America magazine.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker argues that stopping an unjust aggressor is morally permissible, but the method must be carefully evaluated.
In simple terms: Stopping wrongdoing is allowed, but how to do it matters.
Key Takeaway
Evaluate means before acting against injustice.
Themes
ethics
war
morality
justice
Mood
thoughtful
critical
serious
Type
political
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- policy debate
- military strategy
- humanitarian intervention
- media interviews
Key Concepts
just war theory
moral decision-making
political responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria should guide the choice of means to stop aggression?
- How do we balance moral imperatives with practical constraints?
A Different Perspective
The quote lacks concrete criteria for what counts as “just means means to stop.