New York, 24 October 2025

Mr. Chair,

The continued proliferation and misuse of conventional weapons poses a significant obstacle to achieving peace and trust in international relations. Rather than fostering stability, their unchecked spread breeds mistrust, fuels violence, and undermines dialogue between States.

In this regard, the dramatic rise in global military expenditure, which last year reached a staggering 2.7 trillion US dollars is deeply troubling. Such an enormous allocation of resources to armaments contradicts the pursuit of the common good. As Pope Leo XIV observes “How can we continue to betray the desire of the world’s peoples for peace with propaganda about weapons buildup, as if military supremacy will resolve problems instead of fueling even greater hatred and desire for revenge?”[1] Instead of supporting essential humanitarian needs and integral human development, these resources perpetuate patterns of fear and division that undermine the pursuit of peace.

Mr. Chair,

The recent withdrawals from the Ottawa Convention on Anti-Personnel Landmines is of grave concern. These weapons inflict indiscriminate and enduring harm on individuals, communities and the environment, leaving a deadly legacy long after conflicts have ended. The fact that they can be inadvertendly activated by anyone, especially innocent civilians, makes them incompatible with the principles of humanity and international law.

The same concern applies to all weapons systems that operate without meaningful human control and oversight. Decisions over life and death must not be surrendered to machines. In this context, the Holy See strongly supports the Secretary-General’s call for negotiations to conclude a legally binding instrument prohibiting lethal autonomous weapon systems, by next year. In the meantime, all States must refrain from developing or employing them.

Mr. Chair,

There is also an urgent need to stop the use of explosive weapons, including cluster munitions, in populated areas. Using explosives in populated areas has indiscriminate effects, such as devastating schools, hospitals, and places of worship.

Equally pressing is the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW). The unlawful proliferation of these weapons continues to take a heavy toll on the most fragile in society, particularly children, who are all too often recruited into criminal or terrorist groups, robbed of their innocence and education, and denied a future. The suffering SALW inflict erodes the very fabric of society and perpetuates cycles of violence and poverty. For this reason, my Delegation calls upon the international community to fully implement existing frameworks and looks forward with hope to the Ninth Biennial Meeting of States on Small Arms and Light Weapons in June as an opportunity to make concrete progress in this area.

Mr. Chair,

In conclusion, the Holy See urges the international community to abandon the illusion of security through arms, and instead to strive unceasingly to build a peace founded on dialogue, justice and the dignity of every human life. This is critical work which requires continuous commitment.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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[1] Pope Leo XIV, Address to Participants in the Plenary Session of the “Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches” (ROACO), 26 June 2025.