Ramaphosa’s Plea to the Vatican: “The world can no longer afford to fund war over peace”

At the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, under the quiet echo of history and incense, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered one of his most pointed messages yet: “To many, it seems easier to fund wars than to invest in peace.” His words, directed at the conscience of the world, underscored a growing frustration with the imbalance between global militarisation and humanitarian neglect.

Ramaphosa met Pope Leo XIV as part of a diplomatic mission aimed at strengthening ties between South Africa and the Holy See. Yet the conversation quickly transcended protocol. It became a moral appeal — a call for the world’s wealthiest nations to confront their complicity in fuelling global instability while poverty and climate crises worsen across the Global South.

He spoke of Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine not as abstract conflicts, but as mirrors reflecting the human cost of indifference. “We are witnessing the same cycle — the same destruction — while the promise of peace fades under the weight of profit and politics,” Ramaphosa said.

The President’s visit comes ahead of South Africa hosting the G20 Summit under the banner “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.” He used the meeting to frame South Africa’s upcoming leadership role as one rooted in moral clarity rather than power politics. “Peace must be treated as an investment,” he added, “one that yields human security, not shareholder returns.”

Pope Leo XIV reportedly expressed admiration for South Africa’s tradition of dialogue and reconciliation, noting that the country remains a model of peaceful transformation in turbulent times. Vatican officials described the exchange as warm and deeply reflective, touching on faith, justice, and climate responsibility.