Madam Chair,

My Delegation wishes to congratulate you and the bureau on your election and assures you of its constructive engagement and support during this session.

The present era is witnessing an unprecedented threat to peace, accompanied by a weakening and, in some instances, a loss of the very concept of peace itself. The global increase in armed conflicts and the concomitant rise in military expenditure are exacerbating suffering and fear, with particularly adverse effects for the poor, the elderly, children and those in vulnerable situations.

As Pope Francis has underlined “In order to make peace a reality, we must move away from the logic of legitimacy of war: if this were valid in earlier times, when wars were more limited in scope, in our own day, with nuclear weapons and those of mass destruction, the battlefield has become practically unlimited, and the effects potentially catastrophic. The time has come to say an emphatic ‘no’ to war, to state that wars are not just, but only peace is just: a stable and lasting peace, built not on the precarious balance of deterrence, but on the fraternity that unites us. Indeed, we are all brothers and sisters, journeying on the same earth, dwelling in a single common home, and we cannot darken the heaven under which we live with the clouds of nationalisms. Where will we end up if everyone thinks only of themselves? So those who strive to build peace must promote fraternity. Building peace is a craft that requires passion and patience, experience and farsightedness, tenacity and dedication, dialogue and diplomacy. And listening as well: listening to the cries of those who are suffering because of wars, especially children. Their tear-stained eyes judge us: the future we prepare for them will be the court of our present choices. Peace is possible if it is truly desired!”[1]

Madam Chair,

The Holy See would like to share with this Committee the following remarks:

It is imperative to pursue a policy of disarmament because the belief in the deterrent value of weapons is illusory. At a time when the threat of nuclear conflict is dangerously close to becoming a reality once again, it is essential for the international community to intensify its efforts to strengthen and implement arms control and disarmament treaties. In this regard, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) offers a viable path to establish a new security framework based on human dignity and the principle of sovereign equality among States. By addressing the profound humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons, the TPNW provides a comprehensive response to the urgent need for a world free of nuclear weapons. Amidst the unfortunate stalemate of the Tenth Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the TPNW stands as a beacon of hope and progress. For this reason, while reaffirming the importance of the effective implementation of the NPT, my Delegation urges all States to join the TPNW and renounce the use of nuclear energy for warfare.

In order to achieve these ambitious goals, strong verification measures are of paramount importance. The Holy See commends the verification work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and expresses hope that the Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the TPNW will take meaningful steps towards laying a foundation for measures to verify the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Madam Chair,

To achieve a stable and lasting peace, the international community must address the role of emerging technologies in the development of new weapons.

As Pope Francis has affirmed “there can be no escaping serious ethical questions related to the armaments sector”[2]. This is all the more urgent as Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is already profoundly transforming many fields, becomes an increasingly central element in the conduct of hostilities.

The international community must establish norms governing these technologies to ensure that lethal autonomous weapons are controlled solely by humans, who, guided by individual conscience, are uniquely placed to ensure that their use is consistent with international humanitarian law. The prospect of giving machines the autonomy to inflict harm and death raises serious legal and moral concerns. In this context, the Holy See strongly welcomes the Secretary-General’s recommendation that States work towards the conclusion, by 2026, of a legally binding instrument prohibiting lethal autonomous weapon systems that operate without human control or supervision.

In an increasingly interconnected world, where cyberattacks on hospitals, medical and educational facilities, food distribution and other humanitarian networks are on the rise, the Holy See supports the creation of international norms and institutions that promote dialogue and the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). In this regard, my Delegation commends the adoption by consensus of the Third Annual Progress Report (APR) during the eighth substantive session of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on ICTs and security.

Madam Chair,

As one human family, we share one planet and its environment. Given the increasing reliance on outer space for civilian activities, it is of paramount importance to preserve outer space exclusively for peaceful purposes, as a global common good, in line with Article 1 of the 1967 Outer Space treaty which affirms that “the exploration and use of outer space […] shall be the province of all mankind.” The Holy See is concerned about the increasing research and investment in anti-satellite and other counter-space capabilities, as well as the growing congestion of orbits and space debris.

Madam Chair,

While emerging technologies confront us with new and potential threats, conventional weapons continue to cause undeniable harm to defenseless, including women, children, the elderly and persons with disability. In this context, the unchecked growth of military spending is deeply worrying. The relentless increase in defense-military expenditures diverts critical resources that could be invested in the pursuit of genuine human security. Against this background, the Holy See urges all States to reconsider their spending priorities and work for the promotion of a culture of peace and life, rather than a culture driven by war and death.

Thank you, Madame Chair.

[1] Pope Francis, Address to the Security Council of the United Nations, 14 June 2023.

[2] Pope Francis, Message for the 57th World Day of Peace, 1 January 2024.