Despite the Israel-Iran ceasefire, the risk of a broader global war grows ever more real. Nations aligned with either side are intervening, each seeking to shift the balance of power in their favor. They overlook the fact that in war, there are no true victors, only victims. As Jesus warned, “He who lives by the sword shall perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).

These words ring even truer today, in an age when warfare no longer involves swords but nuclear weapons and precision-guided missiles capable of annihilating entire cities in seconds. A single reckless leader, acting under the pretense of peace or national security, could destroy civilizations with the push of a button.

Years ago, political scientist Håvard Hegre of the University of Oslo predicted that by 2050, “the world would be more peaceful, largely because war would have become financially pointless.” But today’s accelerating arms race tells a different story. War remains a highly profitable enterprise, especially for those who manufacture and sell weapons.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the combined arms sales of the world’s 100 largest defense contractors reached a staggering $632 billion in 2023, up from $398 billion in 2017. The companies producing arms based in the United States continue to dominate the global arms trade, accounting for 43 percent of all weapons exports between 2020 and 2024. This dominance is bolstered by a foreign policy partially aimed at curbing the military expansion of rival powers.

The US routinely justifies its growing nuclear arsenal with the claim that it protects nations threatened by rogue regimes or aggressive neighbors. Yet this rationale reveals a sobering reality: as long as there is war, or the threat of it, the arms industry will continue to thrive.

American officials often argue that their military power is essential to defeating terrorism. Yet in many regions where U.S. forces have a strong presence, terrorism has not been eradicated. In some cases, it has evolved into even more complex and deadly forms.

This unchecked arms race and the unrelenting pursuit of global supremacy reflect a deeper crisis: the erosion of legitimate authority and the rise of power bolstered by military strength. In seeking dominance, many world powers abandon their roles as stewards of truth, diplomacy, and peace. For them, power is no longer a means to achieve justice and peace. It has become an end in itself.

This twilight of authority makes today’s Gospel message particularly urgent. It reminds us that lasting peace can only be achieved through the conscientious use of authority, not through the brute force of power. In its classical sense, authority is rooted in legitimacy, integrity, and moral credibility. Leaders who embody these qualities inspire trust, foster cooperation, and cultivate loyalty.

Power, by contrast, often relies on coercion, manipulation, and fear. People do not respond to illegitimate power with genuine respect, but with forced compliance, quiet resistance, or passive resignation. Such responses breed only instability and division.

When Jesus said to Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church,” and gave him “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19), Jesus was not conferring political or military authority. He was entrusting Peter with a share in His authority that transcends all earthly power. As Jesus affirmed, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).

This spiritual authority explains why the Church has survived centuries of persecution, schism, war, and human sinfulness. Its survival is not due to political savvy or worldly strength, but to the enduring authority of Christ, who promised, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

The Church offers a powerful lesson for today’s leaders. True peace cannot be achieved merely through the build-up of a nation’s war machines, or through ceasefires or deterrence. Only when leadership is grounded in integrity, humility, and commitment to the common good shall lasting peace prevail.