While I'm sure the Pope will have an okay or even great opinion about the humanity or morality of things, there is a feeling of the crossbow effect.
The Pope can declare the crossbow to be an illegal weapon that destroys human dignity. But there not much that does to really fix the matter. Even in the 1139 when Pope Innocent declared the crossbow illegal and the Church was basically at the height of its power, it barely affected the future development of the weapon. (Indeed: a few centuries later an even more fearsome weapon was deployed by the Ottoman Janissaries. The Musket, to devastating effect. Innovation doesn't always come from Christian kingdoms).
That being said, the Pope must act and state things in terms of a humanitarian lens. This is one of the oldest and most important functions of the Church.
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It will be up to the actual governments around the world to actually regulate ... well .. countries. The Pope can only issue abstract decrees on humanity and morality. It's up to the rest of us to live our lives by it.
dragontamer•12m ago
The Pope can declare the crossbow to be an illegal weapon that destroys human dignity. But there not much that does to really fix the matter. Even in the 1139 when Pope Innocent declared the crossbow illegal and the Church was basically at the height of its power, it barely affected the future development of the weapon. (Indeed: a few centuries later an even more fearsome weapon was deployed by the Ottoman Janissaries. The Musket, to devastating effect. Innovation doesn't always come from Christian kingdoms).
That being said, the Pope must act and state things in terms of a humanitarian lens. This is one of the oldest and most important functions of the Church.
----------
It will be up to the actual governments around the world to actually regulate ... well .. countries. The Pope can only issue abstract decrees on humanity and morality. It's up to the rest of us to live our lives by it.