Can Religion Help End Nuclear Weapons?

Vatican Conference Gathered Leaders to Discuss How to End Weapons of Mass Destruction

This past weekend the Vatican hosted the “Prospects for a World Free from Nuclear Weapons and for Integral Disarmament.” The aim of the conference was to discuss how the world can eliminate nuclear weapons.

Can Religion Help End Nuclear Weapons?[/tweetthis]

In attendance were spiritual leaders, scientists, policymakers, several Nobel Peace Prize winners, and survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The conference was supported by Pope Francis, who has spoken about the “mentality of fear” that is created by nuclear weapons.

There are currently nine nations which have a cumulative total of over 16,000 nuclear weapons. In July, the United Nations adopted a treaty declaring the elimination of nuclear weapons an international priority. Countries that have nuclear weapons or are protected by those nations who did not sign the treaty.

The Holy See (Vatican) makes history as the first state to ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. #nuclearban @Pontifex pic.twitter.com/AK3ftUFSw1

— ICAN (@nuclearban) September 20, 2017

One of the key takeaways from the conference was the importance of religion to eliminate nuclear proliferation. Conference leaders argued that the universal ethic of peace and love in religious doctrine can be used to persuade politicians to move to anti-proliferation.

Reaction from world leaders has not yet occurred.

Resources

• RNS
• Independent
• Japan Times
• Radio Vatican
• Crux Now

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