Holy See Reaffirms Commitment to Nuclear Disarmament & Peaceful Use of Atomic Energy
The Holy See underscored the “moral duty” of ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy and preventing the proliferation of atomic weapons at the sixty-ninth session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).Monsignor Daniel Pasho, deputy Secretary for Multilateral Relations Affairs, delivered the message, beginning with Pope Francis’ greetings to participants and expressing thankfulness for the work of IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and the General Secretariat.
Monsignor Pasho emphasized that preventing nuclear proliferation is particularly crucial given global realities, stating that allocating resources to nuclear weapons development is “starkly inconsistent with the fact that many people on this planet are struggling to survive.” He strongly condemned increasing military expenditures, particularly in the nuclear sector, calling it “an insult to all humanity” and warning of the “irreplaceable effect and tremendous destruction” a major nuclear confrontation would cause.
recalling the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Pasho reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to the founding principles of the United Nations, the IAEA, and the process of disarmament. He asserted that nuclear weapons are “incompatible with humanitarian and moral principles,” and that their possession and storage only fuels fear and creates unprecedented risks. He stressed the importance of respecting the IAEA’s monitoring and investigation activities as vital to rebuilding trust and fostering dialog, peace, and security.
Monsignor Pasho also voiced concern over the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East,cautioning that military action targeting Iranian nuclear facilities could escalate tensions. He echoed Pope Francis’ call for a renewed commitment to diplomacy and international institutions, alongside efforts to halt the production of ”tools of destruction and death.” He highlighted the IAEA as “the most crucial pluralism model ever in a world that is getting more divided.”
Concluding his remarks, Monsignor Pasho stressed the importance of differentiating between the destructive potential of nuclear weapons and the beneficial applications of nuclear technologies in fields like medicine, climate change mitigation, agriculture, water management, and energy – all of which must be guided by a strong ethical framework prioritizing safety, transparency, intergenerational justice, and care for creation.
