Pope Francis remarked today that we live under an “apocalyptic threat,” increased by the number and power of nuclear weapons as well as weapons technologies.
The Press Office of the Holy See published this September 19 the message written by Pope Francis on the occasion of the International Congress organized by the Academy of Social Sciences and the Peace Research Institute of Oslo for the 60th anniversary of the publication of the encyclical Pacem in Terris, which is celebrated in Rome on September 19 and 20.
The Holy Father addressed his message to Cardinal Peter Turkson, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, who is participating in the Congress held within the framework of the name day of this historic encyclical of Saint John XXIII.
The Pontiff emphasizes that the Congress is being held in a world that “is still mired in a Third World War in pieces,” and that “in the tragic case of the conflict in Ukraine, not without the threat of resorting to nuclear weapons.”
For the Holy Father, “the current moment bears a disturbing resemblance to the period immediately before Pacem in Terris when in October 1962 the Cuban missile crisis put the world on the brink of widespread nuclear destruction.”
Along these lines, he regrets that the same “apocalyptic threat” currently exists, increased by the number and power of nuclear weapons as well as by new weapons technologies.
At the same time, he warns that “the old consensus on the prohibition of chemical and biological weapons” is in danger.
For this reason, Pope Francis urges the participants in the Congress to dedicate their deliberations to the parts in which the encyclical deals with disarmament and the paths “towards lasting peace.”
“I hope that your deliberations, in addition to analyzing the current military and technological threats to peace, include a disciplined ethical reflection on the serious risks associated with the continued possession of nuclear weapons, the urgent need for renewed progress in disarmament and development of peace-building initiatives.
At the same time, he expresses his categorical opposition to the “immoral possession of nuclear weapons” and assures that “it is the responsibility of all of us to keep alive the vision that a world free of nuclear weapons is possible and necessary.”
“In this sense, the work of the United Nations and related organizations to raise public awareness and promote appropriate regulatory measures remains crucial,” highlights Pope Francis.
It also clarifies that “concern about the moral implications of nuclear war should not overshadow the increasingly pressing ethical questions raised by the use in contemporary warfare of so-called ‘conventional weapons’, which should only be used for defensive purposes and should not be directed against civilian targets.”
In his message, the Holy Father also hopes that this Conference will result in “deep reflection on this issue” and lead “to a consensus so that such weapons, with their immense destructive power, are not used in a way that causes unnecessary damage or suffering.”
Finally, the Pope underlines the importance of the issues debated at the Congress, while expressing his appreciation to the speakers and participants.
“I gladly reiterate,” the Pontiff concludes, “the prayerful desire expressed by Pope John at the conclusion of his encyclical, that ‘by the power and inspiration of God, all peoples embrace each other as brothers and sisters, and that the peace they long for may it always flourish and reign among them.”