Urge Congress to Free the World of Nuclear Weapons

Pope Francis’ legacy of prophetic leadership for peace, justice, and care for creation includes his insistence that “a world free of nuclear weapons is both necessary and possible.” He was the first pope to declare that even the possession of nuclear weapons for the purpose of deterrence is immoral and unacceptable. Francis was instrumental in the drafting and passage of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and the Holy See under his leadership was first to ratify it.

Today, the risk of nuclear war is greater than ever before, and the system of treaties to limit and reduce nuclear weapons is crumbling. In February 2026 New START, the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the world’s two nuclear superpowers, the United States and Russia, will expire. The resulting arms race would be unthinkably costly and dangerous. President Trump has indicated an interest in “denuclearization,” but others in his administration have also indicated interest in restarting live nuclear weapons testing. It is up to all of us to raise up Pope Francis’ call for a nuclear arms-free future. Contact your representative in Congress and ask them to co-sponsor House Resolution 317, “urging the United States to lead the world back from the brink of nuclear war and halt and reverse the nuclear arms race.”