The buildup of weapons in outer space is a “genuine and grave” threat to international peace and security.

That’s according to Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, who was speaking on October 27 at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The vastness and fragility of space

The Archbishop recalled the words of Pope Leo XIV during a video call with astronaut Buzz Aldrin on July 20, on the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The vastness of space, the Pope said at the time, evokes "the mystery of Creation, its greatness," but also its "fragility”.

Outer space, the Archbishop said in his address, offers "unprecedented opportunities" in terms of cooperation and scientific discoveries. However, he warned of worrying trends that threaten this.

Despite the issue being addressed at the UN's annual Conference on Disarmament since 1985, the international community has not yet reached a consensus on banning all types of weapons in outer space, Archbishop Caccia said. Anti-satellite systems and the accumulation of debris in low Earth orbit, he noted, undermine international peace and security, as well as the long-term sustainability of space activities.

Preserving space from private and state interests

The Holy See reiterated that outer space must be used exclusively for peaceful purposes, "for the benefit of all humanity." This vision is already enshrined in the Outer Space Treaty, Archbishop Caccia noted, which recognizes these areas as a "common good" to be protected for future generations, preserving them from the exclusive interests of states or private entities.

This, Caccia warned, must not lead to a “repetition of past conflicts” or transform space into “a theatre of competition that endangers everyone”.

States, rather, share the responsibility to cooperate and “embrace multilateralism”, and “advance the common good in their activities in space”.

A domain of hope, progress, and shared responsibility

The Archbishop brought his address to a close by expressing his hope that outer space would be used to “strengthen solidarity” rather than to “extend earthly rivalries into the cosmos.”

The objective, the Holy See’s Permanent UN representative said, is to “ensure that outer space remains a domain of hope, progress, and shared responsibility for generations to come”.