New York: The Holy See has called for urgent global action on disarmament, nuclear weapons and the growing use of military technology, stressing that peace cannot be delayed until more favourable conditions arise. It has also urged the international community to address the root causes of hunger and poverty and ensure that food reaches those most in need.
Archbishop Christophe El Kassis, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York, made the appeals during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, October 14. He addressed two committees, one dealing with disarmament and international security and the other focusing on poverty eradication, agricultural development, food security and nutrition.
Speaking on disarmament, Archbishop El Kassis expressed concern over rising military expenditure at a time when many people continue to lack access to basic needs. He said disarmament was an essential part of building peace and should not be treated as an aspiration that could be postponed.
He noted that conflicts and divisions were weakening international relations, while trust, dialogue and efforts to control arms faced growing challenges. He also expressed concern about nuclear weapons and the integration of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies into nuclear related systems.
The Archbishop warned that relying on the threat of catastrophic destruction as a means of maintaining security could lead to escalation and miscalculation. He stressed that such an approach exposed the weaknesses of nuclear deterrence as a security model.
The Holy See has called for legally binding international agreements to prohibit lethal autonomous weapons systems and regulate the development and use of artificial intelligence. Archbishop El Kassis said these measures should ensure accountability and protect civilians and essential infrastructure.
He also emphasised that technological progress must serve human dignity and the common good without weakening the moral responsibility of those making decisions that affect human lives.
The Permanent Observer urged countries to honour existing international commitments on nuclear disarmament, including Article VI of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. He also identified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty as an urgent priority.
Until further progress is achieved, he called for existing moratoria on nuclear testing to be maintained and for the international verification system to receive full support.
Archbishop El Kassis also highlighted the harm caused by conventional weapons, particularly the illegal spread and misuse of small arms and light weapons. He said these weapons fuel violence and instability, with serious consequences for vulnerable individuals and communities.
He further called for renewed international efforts to prevent the militarisation of outer space, stressing that activities in space should be carried out responsibly and exclusively for peaceful purposes and the benefit of humanity. He said the same sense of responsibility should guide the use of information and communications technology.
Addressing poverty and food security, Archbishop El Kassis described poverty as one of the world's greatest challenges and identified hunger and malnutrition as among its most damaging consequences.
He expressed concern that hunger continues to affect millions of people even though enough food is produced globally to feed everyone. He also drew attention to food waste, which adds to the injustice of a situation in which many people struggle to obtain adequate food.
He said efforts to eradicate hunger must go beyond increasing food production and address the conditions that prevent people from accessing it. These include conflicts, climate change, unfair economic structures and inadequate infrastructure.
The Archbishop paid particular attention to smallholder farmers, who often face difficulties accessing land and markets and receiving fair payment for their work.
He also stressed the need to reconsider how collective resources and priorities are allocated. The international community, he said, must place human dignity at the centre of its efforts and turn commitments to ending poverty and improving food security into concrete political action.
Archbishop El Kassis concluded by calling for the resources needed to reach the most vulnerable people, underlining the importance of matching international commitments with the political will and practical support required to achieve lasting progress.