# ICRC President: We must return to Conventions; peace is responsibility of all > ICRC President urges global return to humanitarian law as conflicts surge. - Title: ICRC President: We must return to Conventions; peace is… - Summary: ICRC President urges global return to humanitarian law as conflicts surge. ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric warns that rising global conflicts require… - Keywords: icrc, pope leon xiv, international humanitarian law, conflict zones, geneva conventions, autonomous weapons, dehumanizing language, peace efforts, religion, world, President, must - Source: Vaticannews — https://vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2026-10/red-cross-president-interview-audience-pope-leo-xiv-peace.html - Author: Vatican News - Published: 2026-10-10T09:11:17.111+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: icrc, pope leon xiv, international humanitarian law, conflict zones, geneva conventions, autonomous weapons, dehumanizing language, peace efforts, religion, world ## ICRC President meets Pope Leo XIV Mirjana Spoljaric, ICRC President, spoke to Vatican News after meeting Pope Leo XIV on October 9. > We are currently preparing for an exceptional initiative's final stage, which is the convening of an international conference at the end of the year in Jordan that will be hosted by His Majesty King Abdullah II ## 122 countries plan to attend December conference The ICRC conference in Jordan on December 7 will see 122 countries express intent to participate, with more joining daily. > The fact that almost every day another country joins gives me a lot of hope that we will have a very successful conference in December ## ICRC classifies 130+ conflicts globally The ICRC currently classifies more than 130 conflicts worldwide, the highest number since World War II and double that of 15 years ago. > The number has been rising exponentially. The conflicts are overlapping and they are more and more difficult to unpack ## Erosion of international law in conflict zones ICRC President notes growing erosion of respect for international humanitarian law despite universal ratification of the Geneva Conventions. > Yet despite states having joined the conventions and assumed the obligations that come with them, respect for the rules protecting civilians and non-combatants has weakened ## Dehumanizing language risks atrocities ICRC President warns of increased dehumanizing language in military strategies that historically precedes atrocities. > A very concerning element of this is the increased use of dehumanizing language. There's almost no restraint with regards to what can be said in the pursuit of military victory ## Autonomous weapons threaten control ICRC President fears AI and autonomous weapons could become indiscriminate without human oversight. > So, if you combine the two, without any restraint, without any normative barriers, you create potentially a weapon that will easily get out of control and that will become extremely indiscriminate with regards to its targets ## ICRC seeks global cooperation on peace ICRC President stresses that all countries share responsibility for de-escalating conflicts through humanitarian action. > We live in a globalized system. Countries are connected through partnerships and economic interdependence and therefore share responsibility for developments far beyond their own borders ## Geneva Conventions as peace foundation ICRC President states the Geneva Conventions provide a reference framework for humanitarian steps toward peace. > The Geneva Conventions give you a reference framework to do this. Especially because they have been ratified by all and still today all states are parties to that convention or humanitarian architecture as a whole ## ICRC calls for peace through action ICRC President emphasizes that peace begins with humanitarian action like safe passage and prisoner exchanges. > It can be the return of civilians, safe passage, the delivery of humanitarian assistance. It can be a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war ## Globalized conflicts require collective action ICRC President warns that no country remains isolated from global conflicts and that international cooperation is essential. > No party to the conflict remains isolated from others. We are speaking today about a global challenge, so we have to address it collectively ## ICRC urges return to international norms ICRC President states that international agreements must be prioritized to prevent further escalation of conflicts. > We have to do more. It is our responsibility. And this is why we rely on agreements and this is why we have to come back to these agreements and say we have to prioritize them in the future ## Key takeaway ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric warns that rising global conflicts require renewed commitment to international humanitarian law and peace efforts.