Vatican diplomat warns UN of arms race in space, calls for ban on all space weapons

Archbishop Christophe Z. el-Kassis, the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations, called for a ban on all space weapons during a United Nations First Committee discussion on October 21. Addressing the 81st session of the General Assembly in New York, the archbishop warned that humanity cannot afford to extend an arms race beyond Earth while existing international conflicts and mistrust already strain the global order.

Archbishop el-Kassis noted that modern life relies increasingly on outer space for scientific research, navigation, and communications. He argued that the lack of a strong legal framework to prevent the militarization of space threatens these activities. The archbishop stated that preserving space for peaceful purposes that serve the common good is a collective responsibility.