Pope Leo criticizes ‘prophets of doom,’ quoting John XXIII at Vatican II

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Pope Leo criticizes ‘prophets of doom,’ quoting John XXIII at Vatican II
Pope Leo XIV recalled that Pope John XXIII slammed those who believe modern times are worse than past ages, 

then went on to ask the faithful to engage with 'modern realities' such as poverty, the 'future of the planet,' and war.



Pope Leo XiV
Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images

Sep 3, 2026
(LifeSiteNews) — Pope Leo XIV opened this week’s Wednesday General Audience by citing Pope John XXIII’s warning against the so-called “prophets of doom” who believe our current time is worse than previous generations.

During his September 2 audience, which focused on the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes promulgated at the Second Vatican Council, Pope Leo recalled that Pope John XXIII, in his opening address to the Second Vatican Council, Gaudet Mater Ecclesia, had slammed the “prophets of doom” who believe modern times are worse than past ages. The pontiff went on to call on the faithful to engage with “modern realities” such as poverty, the “future of the planet,” and war.

Despite the pontiff endorsing his predecessor’s words, he has repeatedly suggested that our modern age is the worst it has been for the environment, noting his belief that the “world is burning” due to “global warming.”

“With today’s meeting, we will begin to reflect on the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, with which the Second Vatican Council intended to focus on a fundamental theme, namely the relationship between the Church and the contemporary world. Saint John XXIII, as early as his inaugural address of 11 October 1962, had sought to take issue with the ‘prophets of doom’ who, ‘though burning with zeal for religion (…) go about saying that our times, when compared with past centuries, are entirely worse; and go so far as to behave as if they had nothing to learn from history,'” Leo said during the audience.

“Hence the task entrusted to the Council Fathers: ‘In the present state of human events, in which humanity appears to be entering a new order of things, one must rather see the mysterious plans of Divine Providence, which are brought to fulfilment in due course through the work of men, and often beyond their expectations, and which, with wisdom, arrange everything, even adverse human affairs, for the good of the Church,'” he added.

Indeed, a 2025 study showed that since 1965, the final year of the Second Vatican Council, Catholic countries across the globe have experienced a “steady decline in the monthly adult religious service attendance rate starting immediately after Vatican II.”

While the pontiff has not discussed this decline among the faithful, he has spoken extensively about his concern for the environment and so-called “climate change” since the beginning of his pontificate.

While celebrating his first “Mass for the Care of Creation” last year, Leo XIV declared that the “world is burning” because of “global warming.” He also highlighted a supposed need for “conversion” for those who do not yet prioritize “the urgency of caring for our common home.” This week, the Holy Father opened the second “Season of Creation” of his pontificate by celebrating another “Care of Creation” Mass.

During the audience, Leo also stressed that the faithful are called to help to address issues such as poverty, hunger, helping the environment, and working toward peace:

Christian solidarity commits us to engaging with reality and also to unmasking the contradictions that characterize personal and social life in the contemporary world: for example, scientific and technological progress, which constantly offers new possibilities, but only to some, and which human beings do not always succeed in ‘subjecting .. to [their] own welfare’; or a clearer understanding of the ‘laws of society,’ accompanied, however, by uncertainties ‘about the direction to give” them; or, again, a greater abundance of “wealth, resources and economic power”, which, unfortunately, today as in the days of the Council, leaves “a huge proportion of the world’s citizens … still tormented by hunger and poverty” (GS 4); or a shared awareness that the future of the planet is at stake, coupled with an inability to renounce selfish consumption and the illusion that war is an effective means of building peace.

While there is nothing wrong with the faithful praying for these intentions, not mentioning the need to spread the Gospel is a glaring omission.

The pope did note that “in the Church, at every level and in every age, it is necessary to achieve the merciful kenosis of Christ, who ‘did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant … and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross’ (Phil 2:6-8).”

However, Leo only made this brief statement at the end of the audience.