REFRAMING THE CATHOLIC UNDERSTANDING OF JUST WAR

The research paper examines a divergence in Catholic thought during the 1930s regarding the validity of just war doctrine in the face of evolving international law. One approach, represented by the Fribourg Conventus, argued that traditional just war doctrine was superseded by international law and the 'natural sociability of states,' advocating for a narrow definition of 'legitimate defense' as the only permissible use of force. Conversely, Robert Regout argued for the permanent applicability of just war theory to provide a normative foundation for international law, allowing for the redress of objective injustice. The author concludes that the Fribourg Conventus's perspective—specifically the move away from 'just war' terminology toward 'legitimate defense' and the rejection of offensive war—is reflected in the teachings of Popes Pius XII, Paul VI, and John Paul II.

• The Fribourg Conventus, a 1931 meeting of theologians, argued that traditional just war doctrine was obsolete because it had been "superseded by developments in international law."
• The Fribourg Conventus promoted a view of international society based on the "natural sociability of states," suggesting that the right of individual states to wage war is an "accidental" historical feature that should be replaced by a transnational common good and international policing.
• The Fribourg Conventus restricted the permissible use of armed force to "legitimate defense," defined narrowly as the "repelling of violence by violence" (vim vi repellere) to protect immediate existence, explicitly ruling out "defensive war" intended to maintain a prior juridical status quo.
• Robert Regout argued that just war doctrine remained applicable and could provide "directing principles and luminous ideas for the indispensable development of international law," particularly in cases where a state's rights are violated and arbitration is refused.
• Regout advocated for a concept of just cause based on "objective fault" or material injury, allowing for wars of "récuperation" or "vindication" to repair wrongs even if the adversary lacked subjective culpability.
• The Fribourg Conventus and its influencers, such as Luigi Sturzo, rejected the rationale of "necessity" in interstate relations, claiming that a "true state of necessity never arises between civilized states" and that such appeals are "morally wrong."
• Contemporary papal teaching from Pope Pius XII onwards has largely abandoned the terminology of "just war" in favor of "legitimate (or "lawful") defense," reflecting the influence of the Fribourg Conventus.
• Papal statements, including those from Pope Paul VI and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, have echoed the Conventus de bello by asserting that "Offensive war of any kind is not morally defensible."

APA

Reichberg, G. M. (n.d.). REFRAMING THE CATHOLIC UNDERSTANDING OF JUST WAR. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/b7e82d75-a843-473b-90c3-3c14e4415f91/REFRAMING THE CATHOLIC UNDERSTANDING OF JUST WAR.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Reichberg, Gregory M. REFRAMING THE CATHOLIC UNDERSTANDING OF JUST WAR. Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/b7e82d75-a843-473b-90c3-3c14e4415f91/REFRAMING THE CATHOLIC UNDERSTANDING OF JUST WAR.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Reichberg |first1=Gregory M. |title=REFRAMING THE CATHOLIC UNDERSTANDING OF JUST WAR |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/b7e82d75-a843-473b-90c3-3c14e4415f91/REFRAMING THE CATHOLIC UNDERSTANDING OF JUST WAR.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{reichbergndreframing, author = {Reichberg, Gregory M.}, title = {{REFRAMING THE CATHOLIC UNDERSTANDING OF JUST WAR}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/b7e82d75-a843-473b-90c3-3c14e4415f91/REFRAMING THE CATHOLIC UNDERSTANDING OF JUST WAR.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }