Geneva: The Holy See has issued a heartfelt appeal for nations across the world to commit to the Anti-Personnel Landmine Convention, underscoring the deep interconnection between peace, disarmament, and human development. Speaking at the 2025 Intersessional Meeting of the Convention in Geneva, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, the Vatican’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations, urged states to ratify and faithfully uphold the treaty better known as the Ottawa Convention.
In his remarks, Archbishop Balestrero praised the Marshall Islands for its recent accession to the convention, which was launched in 1997 and came into force two years later. He emphasized that the ultimate goal of the treaty is universal ratification one that prioritizes human life, safeguards vulnerable communities, and prevents the tragic consequences of unexploded ordnance long after wars end.
The Archbishop voiced alarm over the possibility of some signatory nations considering withdrawal from the treaty. He called on non-member states to join without delay and to enforce its provisions in both spirit and practice. “The Holy See is gravely concerned,” he said, “that certain states may retreat from their obligations. This is not just a legal issue it is a moral one.”
He reminded delegates that the Ottawa Convention is more than a disarmament tool it places the dignity and safety of human beings at its heart. With over 40 million landmines destroyed under its banner and a significant reduction in casualties, the treaty has already demonstrated its transformative potential. Yet the Archbishop lamented the persistent toll of landmines, especially on children, who often fall victim to explosive remnants of war.
Archbishop Balestrero stressed the importance of seeing disarmament as a pathway to development, noting that “true peace cannot exist without true disarmament.” He warned that global priorities remain skewed, pointing to the record-breaking $2.7 trillion spent on military expenditures in 2024. “This is a grave imbalance, and even a scandal,” he said, contrasting it with the comparatively minimal investments in food security, healthcare, and education.
“Disarmament treaties are not signs of weakness,” he added. “Rather, they are enduring expressions of strength rooted in responsibility and solidarity with all humanity.”
In his closing remarks, the Archbishop called for a return to dialogue, diplomacy, and reason in international relations. He urged world leaders to resist the temptation of militarization and to instead embrace a culture that values peace over power. “The Holy See renews its call to uphold the Convention, preserving its integrity and applying it with full confidence in the sanctity of life and the inherent dignity of the human person,” he affirmed.
Echoing the values of Catholic social teaching, the Vatican’s representative underscored that disarmament is not just a strategy it is a moral vision for a more just and peaceful world. Through treaties like the Ottawa Convention, he concluded, nations have the chance to break cycles of violence and build a future where development flourishes because humanity, not weaponry, is the priority.