Nuclear Weapons

The Latest

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual state of the nation address at the Gostiny Dvor conference center in central Moscow on Feb. 29, 2024.

Putin warns West of nuclear war risk over Ukraine troop deployment

Feb 29, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

“[The West] must understand that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory,” Russian President Vladimir Putin... Read more

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Bishops call for ‘universal nuclear disarmament’ on anniversary of treaty

Jan 23, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The treaty “is another historic step on the journey toward hope, toward the light, toward a world free of nuclear... Read more

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Bishops’ peace chairman warns of ‘menace’ of nuclear weapons

Aug 2, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ peace committee this week urged Catholics to pray fervently for progress in nuclear arms... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in St. Peter's Square on May 17, 2023.

Pope Francis on G7 Summit: Nuclear deterrence offers ‘only an illusion of peace’

May 21, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In Hiroshima, G7 leaders issued their first-ever statement on nuclear disarmament, with a special focus on Russia. Read more

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Make nuclear disarmament a priority, Catholic bishops urge G7 Summit

May 19, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Four Catholic bishops from the U.S. and Japan called for G7 leaders who are meeting in Nagasaki to take action... Read more

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Pope Francis: Nuclear weapons are ‘immoral’

Jun 21, 2022

By Maisy Sullivan

Pope Francis condemned the use of nuclear weapons in favor of a “culture of life and peace” in a message... Read more

Pope Francis in front of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima in St. Peter’s Square on May 13, 2015.

5 things to know about Pope Francis’ consecration prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Mar 25, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The prayer will be recited by Catholics worldwide on March 25. Read more

Pope Francis prays for children in Ukraine, March 16, 2022.

Pope Francis: After a nuclear war, humanity would have to ‘start from scratch’

Mar 16, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The pope was speaking on the 21st day of the war in Ukraine. Read more

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, pictured on May 12, 2016.

Ukraine conflict: Cardinal Bo fears ‘nightmare scenario’ of ‘global nuclear holocaust’

Mar 4, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Burmese Church leader said the world was on ‘the threshold of self-annihilation.’ Read more

Takashi Nagai

This Catholic doctor lost everything in the Nagasaki bombing. Except faith, hope, and love.

Feb 22, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Dr. Takashi Nagai’s work to help survivors of the Nagasaki atomic bombing and to console his devastated Japanese Catholic community... Read more

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Nuclear disarmament long overdue, Vatican diplomat tells UN

Sep 29, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Reluctant states should sign a treaty banning nuclear weapons, Vatican diplomat Archbishop Paul Gallagher told the United Nations on Tuesday.... Read more

Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago

Cardinal Cupich: A world without nuclear weapons is ‘not some utopian dream’ 

Jun 15, 2021

Ahead of important international meetings this week, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago urged President Joe Biden and other world leaders... Read more

Catholic bishops criticize plan to increase U.K. nuclear weapons stockpile

Mar 17, 2021

Catholic bishops have signed a statement calling the U.K. government’s plan to increase its nuclear weapons stockpile a “retrograde step.” Read more

The Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, Japan. Credit: Oilstreet via Wikimedia (CC BY 2.5).

Catholic bishops of Hiroshima and Nagasaki hail nuclear weapons ban treaty

Jan 22, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The Catholic bishops of Hiroshima and Nagasaki welcomed the United Nations treaty banning nuclear weapons that came into force Friday,... Read more

Bishop Declan Lang of Clifton. Credit: Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk.

Catholic bishops urge UK to give up nuclear arsenal

Jan 12, 2021

Catholic bishops urged the U.K. on Tuesday to give up its nuclear arsenal.  Read more

Stock image.

Vatican officials call for 'solidarity' in nuclear disarmament after coronavirus pandemic

Dec 16, 2020

By Matt Hadro

The current pandemic has underscored the need for global solidarity to achieve nuclear disarmament, a senior Vatican diplomat said on... Read more

Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. Courtesy photo.

Vatican to UN: It is immoral to threaten use of nuclear weapons as deterrence

Oct 21, 2020

By Courtney Mares

A Vatican official challenged the security theory of nuclear deterrence as immoral at the United Nations this week and called... Read more

Ballistic missile launch from underwater.

US bishops praise pope's 'clarion call' for nuclear disarmament

Feb 14, 2020

The bishops of the United States released a statement on Friday, calling for the United States and other nuclear powers to... Read more

Pope Francis speaks at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan.

Pope Francis in Hiroshima: 'Never again war'

Nov 24, 2019

Pope Francis prayed for peace Sunday at the site of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, where he called for an... Read more

Pope Francis prays at the Nagasaki ground zero site on Nov. 24, 2019.

At Nagasaki ground zero, pope denounces 'unspeakable horror' of nuclear weapons

Nov 23, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

At the ground zero site of the 1945 nuclear attack on Nagasaki, Pope Francis said the threat of using nuclear... Read more