Pope Francis: ‘Disarmament is a moral obligation’

By Linda Bordoni

At a time in which military and arms spending is souring due to the many conflicts afflicting the world, Pope Francis on Sunday urged all members of “the great family of nations” to be courageous and work for disarmament.

He recalled that on March 5, the second International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness is observed.

“How many resources are wasted on military expenses that, due to the current situation, sadly continue to increase!” the Pope exclaimed during his Angelus address, and he expressed his hope for a shift in mindset and investments. 

Moral obligation

“I strongly hope that the international community understands that disarmament is, above all, a duty: disarmament is a moral obligation.”

Highlighting how important this issue is, the Holy Father highlighted the fact that we need to “engrave this in our minds!”

“This,” he added, “requires courage from all members of the great family of nations: to shift from the balance of fear to a balance of trust.”