Holy See at UN urges global efforts to end escalating threat of nuclear arms and recommit to disarmament

Archbishop Gallagher addresses UN meeting

Source: Holy See Mission

New York: On 26 September, at the High-Level Meeting to Commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, called for urgent global efforts to end the escalating threat of nuclear arms and recommit to disarmament.

Reflecting on the 80th anniversary of the first nuclear test and the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Archbishop Gallagher warned of rising tensions, rearmament, and the normalization of nuclear rhetoric. He expressed concern over the integration of artificial intelligence into military systems and the erosion of trust in international law.

The Holy See urged all nations to honour their disarmament commitments, ratify the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The Head of Delegation also called for the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and renewed negotiations on arms control.

"Now is the time to act decisively," Archbishop Gallagher stated, "to protect humanity and our shared future."

The text of the statement follows.

Statement by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, at the High-level Meeting to Commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

New York, 26 September 2025

Mr Chair,

As we mark the 80th anniversary of the first nuclear test in New Mexico and the tragic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that followed, we are reminded not only of the profound suffering caused by these events, but also of the ongoing threat that nuclear weapons continue to pose to global peace, to future generations, and to the creation.

In these challenging times, marked by escalating tensions, deepening divisions, and a weakening commitment to multilateralism and international law, the Holy See expresses its profound concern over the growing trend towards extensive rearmament. The continued and massive diversion of resources to armaments, rather than to efforts that promote integral human development and lasting peace, is unacceptable and calls for renewed international responsibility.

The Holy See is particularly concerned by the rhetoric contemplating the use of nuclear weapons, coupled with scaled-up efforts to expand existing arsenals and create new types of weapons of mass destruction. These trends risk normalizing what should remain unequivocally unacceptable, creating new incentives for the production and possession of nuclear arms. Furthermore, these dynamics endanger the delicate and still unachieved disarmament architecture that has been carefully constructed over decades.

Of additional concern is the emergence of a new arms race characterized by the integration of artificial intelligence into military systems, including space assets and missile defence systems.

Mr. Chair,

Unfortunately, nuclear deterrence is particularly problematic, since it exacerbates mistrust and renders the prospect of disarmament increasingly elusive.

The international community must renew its commitment to disarmament and rebuild trust through dialogue. States must abide by their international commitments including by respecting the mandate of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The Holy See calls on those States that have not yet ratified the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to become parties, and on all nuclear-armed States to fulfill their obligations under Article VI of the Treaty. Moreover, in view of the forthcoming NPT Review Conference, State parties are urged to engaging in good-faith negotiations.

Furthermore, the Holy See encourages States to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as a concrete step towards achieving a world free from nuclear weapons and preventing the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would ensue from their use.

The Holy See calls for renewed efforts towards broader disarmament measures, including the revitalization of bilateral arms control processes, the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and the commencement of negotiations on treaties concerning fissile material and negative security assurances.

Thank you, Mr Chair.