This month a conference in Rome urged the Church to revise its teaching on just-war theory – the ethical concept that sanctions the use of military force. Under pressure that has been growing for years, a doctrine first developed by Augustine of Hippo may be set to change

For some Catholics, the idea of overturning seventeen centuries of church teaching, first enunciated by Augustine of Hippo and later developed by Thomas Aquinas, is, at best, wishful thinking and, at worst, a dangerous denial of the responsibility of states to protect their citizens.Yet in the past 50 years there has been a growing realisation by many in the Church that its teaching needs to develop beyond the six conditions laid down for the just war, as enunciated by Aquinas. In particular, countless conflicts have demonstrated the impossibility of protecting civilians in modern warfare.

This thinking was prevalent earlier this month at a three-day conference in Rome on non-violence and peacemaking that called on Pope Francis to update Catholic teaching on the subject. The conference, organised by Pax Christi and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, brought together theologians and bishops, men and women Religious, and priests and lay people active in justice and peace work around the world.