Global Call to Abandon Nuclear Weapons: Urgent Appeal for Peace and Disarmament

Pope Leo has reaffirmed the Vatican’s longstanding opposition to nuclear weapons despite recent criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who described the Holy See’s position as “weak.”

The Pope’s statement comes amid growing global concern over nuclear risks, as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) faces its most serious test in decades. With no legally binding constraints currently limiting the nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia—the two nations holding the vast majority of the world’s nuclear weapons—international efforts to prevent proliferation and advance disarmament are under increasing strain.

ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, continues to advocate for universal adherence to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), emphasizing that nuclear disarmament remains essential to global security. The organization has warned that investor shifts toward defense industries, driven by profit motives without regard for proliferation risks, undermine long-term peace efforts.

The Vatican’s stance reflects its consistent moral opposition to nuclear arms, rooted in humanitarian and ethical concerns. Pope Leo’s reaffirmation underscores the Holy See’s ongoing commitment to nuclear disarmament as a pillar of peace, even as geopolitical tensions rise and multilateral frameworks like the NPT struggle to maintain consensus among member states.