In a forceful address at an Extraordinary Consistory at the Vatican on June 26, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández delivered a stinging rebuke of the European Union for what he described as a double standard in foreign policy. The cardinal accused the EU of imposing economic sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine while simultaneously sending financial aid and weapons to Israel, despite Israel’s military operations causing widespread devastation in Gaza and southern Lebanon. He argued that Israel’s actions cannot be considered proportionate defensive measures, citing the high number of civilian deaths, the killing of children, and the destruction of entire cities. Furthermore, he criticized both Russia and Israel for invoking the theological concept of a “just war” to justify their aggression, calling this a manipulation of the Church’s Social Doctrine.