Archbishop Christophe Z. el-Kassis warns UN of arms race in space

Archbishop Christophe Z. el-Kassis, the Holy See's permanent observer to the United Nations, warned against the militarization of outer space during a UN First Committee discussion on Oct. 21. In a statement delivered during the 81st session of the General Assembly, the archbishop called for a ban on all space weapons to prevent an arms race beyond Earth.

The archbishop noted that current international law lacks a sufficiently strong framework to counter the threat of space militarization. He stated that humanity cannot afford to extend existing global conflicts and mistrust into space. Archbishop el-Kassis highlighted a growing reliance on outer space for communications, navigation, and scientific research, noting that the global space economy exceeded $685 billion in 2025.

The UN First Committee focuses on international security, global disarmament, and threats to peace. The archbishop described the preservation of space for peaceful purposes as a collective responsibility to serve the common good.