Holy See IAEA Nuclear Proliferation Prevention
- Msgr. Daniel Pacho, undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs at the Secretariat of State, addressed the 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on september 16, 2025,...
- The IAEA, established in 1957 as an intergovernmental forum, promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy and works to prevent its misuse.
- pacho underscored that ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy while preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons is a "moral imperative." This position reflects the Catholic Church's long-standing...
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Holy See Reaffirms Commitment to Peaceful Nuclear Energy, condemns Rising Military Spending
Table of Contents
By Vatican News | September 19, 2025, 9:00 PM EDT
The IAEA: A Vital Multilateral Institution
Msgr. Daniel Pacho, undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs at the Secretariat of State, addressed the 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on september 16, 2025, emphasizing the agency’s crucial role in a world facing increasing fragmentation. He described the IAEA as “the model of multilateralism,” asserting its importance is greater than ever.
The IAEA, established in 1957 as an intergovernmental forum, promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy and works to prevent its misuse. it reports directly to the United nations General Assembly and operates independently of political influence. The agency currently has 177 member states as of September 2025.
Moral Imperative: Peaceful Use vs. Nuclear Proliferation
Msgr. pacho underscored that ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy while preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons is a “moral imperative.” This position reflects the Catholic Church’s long-standing stance on nuclear disarmament and the ethical considerations surrounding nuclear technology.
Pope francis has repeatedly called for a world free of nuclear weapons, describing their possession as morally unacceptable. In 2017, he stated, “We must not succumb to the temptation to pursue power at the expense of our brothers and sisters.”
(Vatican News, 2017)
The Holy See actively participates in international efforts to strengthen nuclear non-proliferation treaties and promote arms control. It supports the Treaty on the Prohibition of nuclear Weapons (TPNW), although it is not a signatory, advocating for global adherence to its principles.
Applications of Nuclear Technology for the Common Good
The Undersecretary highlighted the beneficial applications of nuclear technologies in various fields, including medicine, climate change mitigation, agriculture, water management, and energy production.
He stressed that the use of these technologies “must always be guided by robust regulatory frameworks that are based on ethical principles: safety, openness, intergenerational justice, and care of creation.”
| Sector | Nuclear Technology Application | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Diagnostic Imaging & Treatment | PET scans, radiation therapy for cancer |
| Agriculture | Crop Betterment & Pest Control | Radiation-induced mutation breeding for higher yields |
| Water Management | Groundwater Assessment & Pollution Tracking
|