High-Level Segment of the 2026 Session of the Conference on Disarmament

Mr. President,

Madam Director-General and Secretary-General of the Conference,

Excellencies and distinguished delegates,

Humanity is at a critical juncture. “War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading”.[1] As Pope Leo XIV observed, “a diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, by either individuals or groups of allies.”[2] 

Regrettably, these dynamics have deprived this Conference, which for years has been held hostage to a stalemate, of its very raison d’être, that is, to negotiate multilateral disarmament instruments.

Disarmament is not an end in itself. Rather, it is a means of ensuring that inhumane and indiscriminate weapons are never used again. It is a key tool for building trust and achieving just and lasting peace, and therefore significant for promoting integral human development. Above all, disarmament is a moral imperative, rooted in the recognition of the sacredness and dignity of every human life and the interconnectedness of the human family, not merely a political or strategic necessity.[3]

In this regard, I would like to elaborate further on the following three issues:

Firstly, nuclear weapons. The Holy See remains deeply concerned about the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons and their proliferation, particularly in light of the continuing expansion and modernization of nuclear arsenals and their delivery systems. Pope Leo XIV warned that “the current situation requires that everything possible be done to avert a new arms race [...]. It is more urgent than ever to substitute the logic of fear and distrust with a shared ethos capable of guiding choices towards the common good and to make peace a treasure to be cherished by all.”[4]

The concept of military power as a deterrent, especially nuclear deterrence, is based on the irrational notion that the relationship between nations should be built on fear and the threat of force rather than on law, justice and trust.[5] When this dangerous path of deterrence is not accompanied by greater diplomatic efforts, confidence-building, and cooperation, but rather by the erosion of the disarmament and arms control architecture established after the Second World War, as it is the case now, humanity and our planet as a whole risk being pushed towards the edge of devastation and destruction. With this in mind, ahead of the upcoming Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Holy See is calling upon nuclear weapons States to engage in good faith negotiations to reduce and, ultimately, eliminate their arsenals, in accordance with their obligations under Art. VI.

Secondly, outer space. The militarization of outer space is already a reality and will lead to its weaponization, unless concrete steps are taken to build trust and enhance collective security and responsibility. A major conflict in or involving outer space would have devastating consequences for present and future generations. It is therefore essential that the exploration and use of outer space is preserved for peaceful purposes only, as a common “province of all mankind” in accordance with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty[6].

Thirdly, the weaponization of artificial intelligence. Emerging technologies are not only transforming our daily lives, they are also changing the ways wars are fought, resulting in an “even more cold and detached approach to the immense tragedy of war.”[7] When autonomous weapons “become” the combatants, the unique human capacity for moral judgment and ethical decision-making disappears, as does the burden of responsibility, dangerously lowering the threshold for conflict. Therefore, it is fundamental to retain human control and judgement in the use of force, and a moratorium on the development and use of lethal autonomous weapons systems should be established immediately. 

Mr. President,

In an era marked by significant technological progress and mounting threats to peace and security, the Holy See would like to present the following two concrete proposals to this Conference for consideration[8]:

1)    Engage in discussions on verification to inform possible future negotiations on disarmament and arms control and nuclear disarmament. Verification work, which could make use of the opportunities offered by emerging technologies, is an important confidence-building measure and a fundamental component in ensuring the efficacy of treaties under the well-known adage “trust and verify”. 

2)    In light of the increasing military expenditure, consider the merits of resuming formal discussions on limitations of armaments and on general and complete disarmament, under control and security systems. As Pope Paul VI affirmed sixty years ago: “every passing day shows more clearly that no stable peace can be established […] until there is effective, general, controlled armament reduction.”[9]  

Mr. President,

The Holy See appeals to overcome the persistent idea that peace can only be achieved through strength and deterrence. In fact, deterrence fuels proliferation and can fail, with potentially devastating consequences for humanity and future generations. For humanity to move towards authentic and lasting peace, it is crucial that this Conference on Disarmament achieves concrete and lasting disarmament agreements for the common good of all peoples.

Thank you.