I have no problem with this statement/clarification. Saint Thomas Aquinas (
Summa Theologica) believed war:
- Should be waged only by a state, the highest political authority, not an individual.
- "A just war is wont to be described as one that avenges wrongs, when a nation or state has to be punished, for refusing to make amends for the wrongs inflicted by its subjects, or to restore what it has seized unjustly."
- Should intend the advancement of good, or the avoidance of evil.
As a general rule, war should be avoided. It should be a last resort. When an embassy-seizing, terrorist sponsor like Iran says, "We will continue to develop a nuclear weapons and once we have one and missiles that can range Europe, we will intimidate the Europeans into doing what we want" (which frankly is not too difficult since their "leaders" are mostly sheep), it is open for discussion whether Saint Thomas' conditions have been met.
Obviously the Holy Father fells the US has not met the right conditions, but being a head of state of a very small state not particularly at risk, his judgement on the matter should be taken advisably. He should (in his capacity as the Vicar of Christ) advise as pacific a policy as possible, but ultimately, since any risk has been and will be borne by Americans, his judgment carries only so much weight. He is welcome to weigh in and get the Iranian leadership to foreswear nuclear weapons development, but failing that, his judgments on such secular matters only carriers so much weight.