Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi discussed the role of religious communities in promoting disarmament and restraint at the Nobel Laureate Assembly. The Nobel Laureate Assembly for the Prevention of Nuclear War took place at the University of Chicago from July 14-16, 2025. The assembly included 20 Nobel laureates and 60 nuclear experts who discussed policy recommendations to mitigate the threat of nuclear war. A declaration was released with pragmatic actions for long-term disarmament, including ending nuclear testing and reducing existing armaments. Masako Wado, of Nihon Hidankyo, warned that the risk of using nuclear weapons is currently very high.
about 2 months ago
Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi, a Vatican diplomat and disarmament advocate, highlighted the crucial role religious communities can play in fostering global disarmament and restraint 1. Speaking at the Nobel Laureate Assembly for the Prevention of Nuclear War, held at the University of Chicago, he outlined several specific contributions 1. The assembly, which convened 20 Nobel laureates and 60 nuclear experts, aimed to develop policy recommendations to mitigate the threat of nuclear conflict 1.
The assembly released a declaration of "pragmatic actions," urging a global recommitment to end explosive nuclear testing 1. It also called upon Russia, the U.S., and China to reduce their existing nuclear armaments and halt further expansion of their stockpiles 1. Masako Wado of Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese nuclear attack survivor group and 2024 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, emphasized that "nuclear deterrence cannot save humanity" and warned that the risk of nuclear weapon use has never been higher 1. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Doomsday Clock currently stands at 89 seconds to midnight, reflecting the ongoing peril 1.
The final day of the assembly coincided with the 80th anniversary of the Trinity Test, the first nuclear detonation, which occurred on July 16, 1945, in New Mexico 1. This test led to widespread radiation contamination and severe health issues for local residents, known as "Downwinders" 1. Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico, led prayers and a Mass at the Trinity site and in Tularosa, commemorating the victims of the test 1. Cardinal Tomasi prefaced his remarks with a moment of silence for nuclear testing and attack victims, urging that the anniversary be an "act of renewal" rather than just a remembrance of destruction 1.
Cardinal Tomasi proposed three concrete ways religious communities can contribute to nuclear deterrence 1. Firstly, "interfaith verification" programs would involve religious organizations serving as civil society witnesses within arms control verification regimes, offering moral oversight and promoting transparency 1. Secondly, "faith-based early warning dialogue platforms" would establish regional interreligious mechanisms where faith leaders meet with policymakers and scientists to identify early signs of arms racing or destabilizing doctrinal shifts 1. Finally, a "global interfaith council" composed of religious representatives, ethicists, scientists, and disarmament experts could assess and report annually on the ethical implications of emerging technologies related to nuclear stability 1.
The Church's stance on peace, nuclear weapons, and human dignity?
The Catholic Church's stance on peace, nuclear weapons, and human dignity is deeply interconnected, rooted in its understanding of the human person created in the image of God and called to live in fraternity and justice.
The Church defines peace not merely as the absence of war or a balance of power, but as "the tranquility of order," a concept articulated by Saint Augustine . This order is structured into human society by its divine Founder and is actualized by humanity's pursuit of ever greater justice . Peace is fundamentally the work of justice and the effect of charity . It cannot be achieved through force alone but must be built through patient diplomacy, the active promotion of justice, solidarity, integral human development, and respect for the dignity of all people .
Key elements for achieving peace include:
Peace is never attained once and for all; it must be built up ceaselessly, requiring a constant mastering of passions and the vigilance of lawful authority due to the human will being unsteady and wounded by sin . The Church emphasizes that earthly peace symbolizes and results from the peace of Christ, who reconciled all people with God through His cross, slaying hatred and pouring forth the spirit of love .
The Catholic Church has a clear and consistent teaching on nuclear weapons, which has evolved to reflect the growing understanding of their catastrophic potential. The Church's stance has moved from a conditional acceptance of deterrence as a transitional step towards disarmament to an outright condemnation of their possession and use.
The concept of human dignity is foundational to the Church's social teaching and underpins its positions on peace and nuclear weapons.
In summary, the Church's vision for peace is one of ordered tranquility, built on justice, charity, and respect for human dignity. This vision leads to a strong condemnation of nuclear weapons and a call for complete disarmament, recognizing that such weapons are incompatible with the inherent dignity of every human person and the pursuit of true peace.