The address underscored the moral and legal imperatives of eliminating cluster munitions, which continue to devastate civilian lives and landscapes long after conflicts end.
Newsroom (24/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) At the 13th Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva, delivered a compelling call for universal adherence to the treaty and renewed efforts toward disarmament. The address underscored the moral and legal imperatives of eliminating cluster munitions, which continue to devastate civilian lives and landscapes long after conflicts end.
Archbishop Balestrero opened by commending the Philippines for its leadership in promoting the Convention and thanked Ambassador Sorreta and the Implementation Support Unit for their humanitarian and disarmament education initiatives aimed at youth. He also welcomed Vanuatu’s recent accession to the treaty, emphasizing that universalization is not optional but a legal obligation under Article 21 of the Convention. “Universalization has direct implications and far-reaching consequences for the operation and effective implementation of this legal instrument,” he stated, highlighting its critical role in aiding victims and preventing further casualties.
The Holy See’s statement deplored the ongoing production, stockpiling, transfer, and use of cluster munitions in armed conflicts, noting their “extended destructive consequences” on both people and land. Archbishop Balestrero called on all states yet to join the Convention to do so urgently, stressing that adherence to international humanitarian law reflects “a noble form of responsibility towards all humanity” rather than weakness. Quoting Pope Pius XII, he reminded delegates that “by the force of reason, not the force of arms, that justice makes its way.”
The address also criticized the global imbalance in resource allocation, pointing to the staggering $2.7 trillion in military expenditure in 2024, as reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. This figure stands in stark contrast to the limited funds dedicated to assisting conflict victims, feeding the hungry, and fostering human development. “No lasting peace is possible without true disarmament,” Balestrero declared, urging a shift in priorities.
The Holy See further cautioned against the escalating global arms race, warning that excessive weapon accumulation risks fueling instability and conflict. “The right to self-defense is not absolute,” the Archbishop noted, advocating for military capabilities to be limited to what is strictly necessary for security. He called for coordinated peacebuilding efforts and renewed commitment to disarmament and arms control negotiations, grounded in the “preeminent and inherent value of human dignity.”
Quoting Pope Leo, Balestrero concluded with a poignant reminder: “Peace, not conflict, is our most cherished dream, and building this peace is a task we undertake together.” The Holy See’s message resonated as a moral and pragmatic plea for collective action to protect civilians, support victims, and eliminate the scourge of cluster munitions.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican news
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