From Vaticannews · · 1m 40s
The Vatican's nuclear line: no weapons, no attacks
At the IAEA's 70th General Conference, the Holy See backed peaceful atomic energy and drew hard limits around weapons, wartime strikes, and AI.
In brief
At the IAEA's 70th General Conference, the Holy See backed peaceful atomic energy and drew hard limits around weapons, wartime strikes, and AI. The right to use nuclear technology peacefully comes bundled with duties: no weapons, no attacks on facilities, and human oversight of any AI in the loop. Originally reported…
A red line in Vienna
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher told the IAEA's 70th General Conference on September 15 that states should renounce nuclear weapons while keeping the peaceful use of atomic energy.
“Archbishop Gallagher: States should renounce nuclear weapons”
Seventy years, same principles
The Holy See was an original IAEA signatory. Gallagher, carrying Pope Leo XIV's greetings, said the geopolitics and the technology have changed but the ethical frame has not.
“must be guided by sound ethical principles, be used for the service of peace and integral human development, and be protected from any destructive use”
Access without discrimination
Nuclear science should serve the common good, and the benefits cannot be reserved for a few. The IAEA's technical cooperation and capacity building help close the gap between nations.
“a vital step towards sustainable development and reducing disparities among nations”
The right comes with a duty
Gallagher's central point: peaceful use is not a standalone entitlement. It is tied to the pledge by non-nuclear-weapon states never to acquire a bomb.
“the responsible exercise of the right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology is inseparable from the accompanying commitments and responsibilities”
Chernobyl at forty
Marking the disaster's 40th anniversary, he argued that meeting rising energy demand must be balanced by transparency and a firm commitment to safety and security.
Never strike a reactor
Protecting nuclear plants is urgent in armed conflict. A radioactive release would carry humanitarian and environmental harm far past the border where it started.
“attacks on nuclear facilities must never occur”
Keep a human in the loop
On AI in the nuclear sector, Gallagher asked for risk awareness, effective human oversight, strong safety standards and international cooperation, citing Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica humanitas.
“If we focus solely on contingencies, we risk letting the succession of emergencies dictate the direction of our path.”
At a glance
The right to use nuclear technology peacefully comes bundled with duties: no weapons, no attacks on facilities, and human oversight of any AI in the loop.
