UČENJE IVANA PAVLA II. O LEGITIMNOJ UPORABI SILE: TRAŽENJE NOVOGA PUTA ZA PROSUĐIVANJE MORALNOSTI RATA
THE TEACHING OF JOHN PAUL II CONCERNING THE LEGITIMATE USE OF FORCE: A SEARCH FOR A NEW APPROACH TO FORMING A JUDGMENT ON THE MORALITY OF WAR

Summary/Abstract: The author examines the teaching of Pope John Paul II on the resolution of international conflicts and compares it to the just war tradition, which represents the history of a complex set of ideas. The author uses the work of Paul Ramsey, one of the US' most influential modern authors in this area, as a contemporary statement of the just war tradition against which the teaching of John Paul II is analyzed. The introduction positions the debate within the contemporary discussion of the just war tradition versus pacifism. There follows a short presentation of Paul Ramsey's just war theory with special emphasis on his conceptualization of justified war, on the role of government, and on the need to limit the conduct of war through the application of jus in bello criteria so as to be able to justify a war. Next there is a presentation of major elements in the teaching of John Paul II. Although he does not exclude the possibility of the use of force under certain conditions, primarily in the form of humanitarian intervention by the international community, the teaching of John Paul II is dominated by the statements against war as a suitable means for the resolution of international conflicts. His analysis of the causes of international conflicts and his cosmopolitan ethics, as well as his view of adequate solutions to these conflicts, indicate that the Pope is searching for a new approach for a moral evaluation of war and international conflicts.

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