Schiller Institute: 85 prominent figures back peace letter to Pope Leo XIV

The Schiller Institute announced on May, 22 the names of 85 prominent international figures who have endorsed its Open Letter to Pope Leo XIV, a move intended to stimulate wider distribution of the letter and attract additional signatories. These individuals are part of a larger group of over 600 current supporters. The Institute underscored the critical nature of this initiative, particularly “in light of the unimaginable civilian death toll and suffering in Gaza as the Israeli government’s policy of genocide and ethnic cleansing intensifies, and other conflicts, such as that in Ukraine, which continue to menace humanity with the specter of nuclear war,” an Institute representative stated. The letter has been translated into Spanish, French, German, Swedish, Arabic, and Portuguese.

The Schiller Institute letter conveys a warm welcome to the new Pontiff. “We the undersigned, wholeheartedly welcome your Holiness to your Pontificate in these present extremely turbulent times, and we appreciate the fact that your first words were ‘Peace be with all of you,'” the letter states.

‘Not only are regional conflicts raging… but several… have the potential of escalating to nuclear Armageddon’

The letter highlights the severe global situation, noting, “Not only are regional conflicts raging in many parts of the world, but several of those conflicts have the potential of escalating to nuclear Armageddon, which could end civilization, and would thus be the ultimate sin against God’s creation.”

‘You have offered to facilitate peace talks among countries at war’

The signatories acknowledge the Pope’s readiness to mediate. “You have offered to facilitate peace talks among countries at war, continuing the mandate of Pope Francis, who had made peace an urgent demand in his last Urbi et Orbi message, and continuously denounced the arms trade, as well as those who profit from war,” the letter continues.

‘We wish to communicate… our commitment to try everything in our power… to establish a true peace order’

A strong commitment to peace is expressed by the endorsers. “We wish to communicate to your Holiness our commitment to try everything in our power, to reach out to all Christians, as well as believers of other religions and world outlooks, to unify in an effort to establish a true peace order in the world, one which eliminates the real causes for war by taking into account the valid security interests of all parties,” they affirmed.

‘Given the horrendous, satanic genocide going on in Gaza… we also appeal to you to speak out’

The letter makes a direct plea concerning the conflict in Gaza. “But, given the horrendous, satanic genocide going on in Gaza, and the unforgivable silence and inaction on the side of the governments in face of it, we also appeal to you to speak out on this ongoing genocide. We need a moral authority to condemn this genocide. Without that, we will lose any moral compass whatsoever,” the letter urgently requests.

‘We also fully support your rejection of the ‘Manichaean notions’ that divide people into ‘good and evil”

The letter also voices support for the Pope’s philosophical views. “We also fully support your rejection of the ‘Manichaean notions’ that divide people into ‘good and evil,’ because such notions deny people the chance to overcome evil through development. But that requires the mobilization of our free will, and it does not mean an automatic acquittal of those who decide to be the instrument of evil,” it explains.

Concluding on a constructive note, the letter states, “We support the idea that ‘the new name for peace is development!'”

The five initiating signatories of the open letter are:

—  Helga Zepp-LaRouche (Germany), Founder of the Schiller Institute and co-initiator of the International Peace Coalition (IPC)

— Ray McGovern (US), Former CIA analyst, co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS

— Liliana Gorini (Italy), Chairwoman, Movimento Solidarietà (Movisol)

— Anastasia Battle, (US), Co-initiator of the International Peace Coalition (IPC)

— Jacques Cheminade (France), former French presidential candidate, President of Solidarité et Progrès