New York, 1 September 2026

Mr. President,

The International Day Against Nuclear Tests serves as a stark reminder of the devastating legacy of nuclear testing and renews the call for shared responsibility in protecting present and future generations from its enduring consequences.

The effects of past widespread nuclear testing persist. Indigenous peoples and other affected communities, particularly women, children and future generations, continue to experience its physical, psychological, social and environmental consequences.

The suffering caused by nuclear testing should have reinforced the common conviction that peace cannot be preserved by developing ever more destructive weapons. However, today renewed reliance on nuclear deterrence, increasingly aggressive nuclear rhetoric and attempts to question the long-standing international norm against nuclear testing risk undermining this conviction. As Pope Leo XIV states in Magnifica Humanitas:

“Military arsenals are receiving renewed attention. In the past, recognition of the threat posed by weapons capable of destroying all of humanity had promoted paths toward détente and disarmament negotiations. Unfortunately, this approach has been left behind, and the evolution of nuclear arsenals – including the prospect of their “tactical” use – makes the use of such weapons seem less improbable.”[1]

Mr. President,

It is with this awareness that the Holy See renews its appeal for the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which, three decades after its adoption, remains an urgent priority if it is to achieve its full potential and further strengthen the global norm against nuclear testing. In the meantime, it is essential that existing moratoria are observed, in order to preserve one of the most important achievements of the international community in the pursuit of peace and international security.

The Holy See also wishes to express its appreciation for the indispensable work of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization. Through its International Monitoring System and verification regime, it has demonstrated how science, technology and international cooperation can be placed at the service of transparency, confidence-building and the common good.

The prohibition of nuclear explosive testing is an essential component of the broader moral and legal imperative to ensure the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and to eliminate existing ones. In this regard, my Delegation also reaffirms the Holy See’s unwavering support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Progress towards objectives, which are mutually reinforcing, is indispensable in the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons and, ultimately, to the establishment of a just and lasting peace.

Mr. President,

The International Day Against Nuclear Tests provides an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing consequences of these tests and the importance of rejecting the logic of fear. It is essential to embrace the path of dialogue and disarmament to ensure a future in peace founded upon the dignity of every member of the human family.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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[1] Pope Leo XIV, Encyclical Letter Magnifica Humanitas, 194.