New York, 26 September 2025

Mesdames Co-Presidents,

The Holy See would like to express its gratitude to the Philippines and Sweden for their work as Article XIV Coordinators and to thank the Executive Secretary of the CTBTO, Mr. Robert Floyd, for his dedication to the noble goals of this Organization.

When the Holy See signed the CTBT on 24 September 1996, it emphasized that “in the sphere of nuclear weapons, the banning of tests and of the further development of these weapons, disarmament and non-proliferation are closely linked and must be achieved as quickly as possible under effective international controls”.[1] The Holy See would like to stress once again that the entry into force of the CTBT remains an urgent and necessary step to avoid nuclear catastrophe.

For nearly three decades, the Treaty has been a fundamental component of the non-proliferation and disarmament regimes. However, it remains a regrettable reality that the Treaty has not yet entered into force. This situation undermines global efforts against nuclear testing. In this respect, questions also arise regarding ethical responsibility.

In today’s international context where human dignity and international law are all too often undermined, the Holy See reiterates its appeal to the remaining Annex II States that have not yet ratified the CTBT to take the necessary steps in order to ratify this Treaty.

The Holy See’s consistent position is that peace cannot be secured through mutual fear or the logic of deterrence. History has shown that even nuclear tests can have catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences, which are not limited to the affected area. Regrettably, the continuous expansion and modernization of nuclear arsenals, accompanied by increasingly belligerent rhetoric and threats concerning their deployment, perpetuate the dangerous illusion that security can be achieved through the threat of annihilation. As Pope Leo XIV stated when commemorating the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: “Despite the passing of the years, those tragic events constitute a universal warning against the devastation caused by wars and, in particular, by nuclear weapons. I hope that in the contemporary world, marked by strong tensions and bloody conflicts, the illusory security based on the threat of mutual destruction may give way to the tools of justice, to the practice of dialogue, and to trust in fraternity.”[2]

Mesdames Co-Presidents,

The CTBT is more than just a technical treaty. It symbolizes humanity’s capacity and will to choose dialogue over destruction, reason over rivalry, and solidarity over suspicion. Let us not allow this moment to pass without reaffirming our commitment to a future in which no Nation, leader, or generation ever considers the testing or use of nuclear weapons to be an option.

As stated by the Holy See during the ratification of the Treaty on 18 July 2001: “In lending moral support to the CTBT through this solemn act of ratification, the Holy See encourages the whole International Community, which is aware of the various challenges standing in the way of nuclear disarmament, to intensify its efforts to ensure the implementation of the said Treaty.”[3]

The Holy See stands ready to collaborate with all States and peoples of goodwill to promote a vision that is rooted in the common good of the entire human family. Each State and the International Community must strive to work together in order to strengthen efforts towards stability and true, lasting peace.

Thank you, Mesdames Co-Presidents.

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[1] Declaration attached to the Instrument of adhesion to the CTBT, 24 September 1996.

[2] Pope Leo XIV, General Audience, 6 August 2025.

[3] Holy See Delegation, Intervention at ratification of CTBT, 18 July 2001.