---
title: Vatican observer urges total elimination of nuclear weapons at UN
url: https://www.faithfulnews.com/en/vatican-observer-urges-total-elimination-of-nuclear-weapons-at-un
published: 2026-10-23T16:49:18+00:00
language: en
section: Culture and Ideas
source: https://www.vaticannews.va/pt/vaticano/news/2026-10/santa-se-onu-arcebispo-el-kassis-eliminar-armas-nucleares.html
organizations: Holy See, United Nations, UN General Assembly
publisher: FaithfulNews
---

# Vatican observer urges total elimination of nuclear weapons at UN

The Holy See's permanent observer at the United Nations stated on Monday that the complete elimination of nuclear weapons remains the only lasting response to the dangers they pose. Archbishop Christophe Z. El-Kassis made this declaration in New York during a thematic debate on nuclear weapons at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. He emphasized that while measures to reduce risks are necessary, they cannot substitute for actual disarmament.

The observer described the persistence of nuclear weapons as one of the most serious threats to humanity. He noted that the current moment is characterized by deep instability, with atomic arsenals being modernized and expanded. Nuclear rhetoric is becoming increasingly heated, and deterrence continues to occupy a central place in security doctrines. This situation, he observed, perpetuates a state where peace depends on the threat of catastrophic destruction, leaving humanity in a permanent state of vulnerability. The humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons transcend borders and generations, revealing a profound contradiction in seeking security through the threat of their use.

Archbishop El-Kassis highlighted that the integration of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies into nuclear systems introduces additional risks. These risks include the definition of conditions under which decisions with grave consequences are made. Citing Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica humanitas, he stressed the necessity of maintaining effective, conscious, and responsible human control and judgment over these systems.

The Holy See stated that the deterioration of the international security context cannot justify a greater dependence on nuclear weapons. Instead, it makes the commitment to their elimination even more urgent. The Vatican exhorted all nuclear-armed states to fulfill their obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. This includes seeking, in good faith, concrete and verifiable progress toward nuclear disarmament.

The Holy See reaffirmed its strong support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, describing it as a tangible commitment to total elimination. It called for renewed efforts to ensure the treaty's effective implementation and universalization, encouraging further adherence and ratification. Additionally, the Vatican renewed its appeal for the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and for the maintenance of existing moratoriums on nuclear testing.

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