Anti-nuclear call by pope

– Pope Francis yesterday renewed calls for global nuclear disarmament, warning that new technology had increased the risk of deadly weapons falling into the hands of terrorists.

“You only have to note that nuclear technologies are spreading, partly because of digital communications, and the instruments of international law have not prevented new states from joining those already in possession of nuclear weapons,” Francis told a seminar at the Vatican.

“The resulting scenarios are deeply disturbing if we consider the challenges of contemporary geopolitics, like terrorism or asymmetric warfare.”

Francis was addressing a Vatican conference on disarmament that was attended by several Nobel Peace Prize winners and top UN and Nato officials, against the backdrop of tensions over North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests.

Western powers are also increasingly concerned over the possibility of groups like Islamic State getting their hands on the technology that could allow them to improvise a nuclear device.

Describing the current international situation as marked by a “climate of instability and conflict”, the Argentine pontiff said the “real priorities”, such as the fight against poverty, the promotion of peace, healthcare projects, and the development of human rights “are relegated to second place”. – AFP