Holy See at UN: Redirect arms spending towards integral human development

By Roberto Paglialonga 

The Holy See has called for resources devoted to armaments to be redirected towards humanitarian assistance and integral human development, expressing concern over the proliferation of conventional weapons and rising global military spending.

Speaking on 22 October at the thematic discussion on conventional weapons in the First Committee of the 81st UN General Assembly, Archbishop Christophe Z. El Kassis, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, warned that the proliferation and use of conventional weapons erode mutual trust, “thereby compromising the pursuit of a just and lasting peace”.

He also described as “equally troubling” the “relentless surge in global military expenditure, which reached almost 2.9 trillion US dollars in 2025”.

“The vast resources devoted to armaments are in stark contrast to the urgent need for humanitarian aid and development,” he said, particularly as millions of people continue to live in poverty without access to essential services.

Human control over lethal force

Archbishop El Kassis also voiced concern over withdrawals from the conventions on anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions, calling for the integrity of both treaties to be preserved and for their universal adoption to be promoted.

Turning to lethal autonomous weapons systems, he welcomed the progress made this year by the Group of Governmental Experts, while reiterating the Holy See’s call for “a legally binding instrument that establishes clear prohibitions and regulations of these systems”.

Recalling Pope Leo XIV’s words in Magnifica Humanitas, the Archbishop stressed that “the decision to use lethal force cannot be delegated to opaque or automated processes, but must remain under effective, self-aware and responsible human control”.

Protecting civilians in populated areas

The Archbishop highlighted the “devastating humanitarian consequences of using explosive weapons in populated areas”.

The widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and the lasting suffering inflicted on affected communities, he said, underline the need for universal endorsement and effective implementation of the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, known as EWIPA.

Tackling the illicit arms trade

Archbishop El Kassis also addressed the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, which “fuels violence and undermines development”.

He called for stronger implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, together with the International Tracing Instrument.

Meeting the needs of the poorest

Concluding his address, the Archbishop stressed that resources devoted to armaments could instead meet the urgent needs of people living in poverty, expand access to education and healthcare, and promote integral human development.

“Redirecting these resources towards such priorities would contribute meaningfully to building a more just and lasting peace,” he said.