Pope Leo Calls on Russia and United States to Save Last Nuclear Arms Treaty

Post by : Saif Nasser

Pope Leo has made a strong appeal to the leaders of Russia and the United States to renew the New START nuclear arms control treaty, warning that the world cannot afford a new nuclear arms race.

Speaking during his weekly public audience at the Vatican, the pope said the current global situation demands urgent action to prevent further danger. He stressed that nuclear weapons threaten all of humanity and that dialogue is the only path forward.

New START is the last remaining treaty that limits the number of strategic nuclear weapons held by the two biggest nuclear powers in the world. It was signed in 2010 and places clear caps on deployed nuclear warheads and delivery systems. The agreement is set to expire this week.

Pope Leo said letting the treaty expire would be a serious mistake. He urged both sides not to allow fear and mistrust to guide their decisions. Instead, he called for cooperation based on shared responsibility and concern for the common good.

The pope warned that if New START ends without replacement, it would mark the collapse of more than fifty years of efforts to control nuclear weapons. Such a move, he said, could open the door to a new arms race that would make the world less safe.

Russia has already signaled that it may be open to a short extension of the treaty. President Vladimir Putin proposed last year that the agreement could continue informally for another year. However, the United States has not yet publicly responded to that proposal.

As the first pope from the United States, Leo’s words carry added weight in Washington. His message was not directed at one country alone but aimed at both nations equally, urging them to show leadership at a time of rising global tension.

Many experts agree that New START plays a key role in keeping nuclear risks under control. Without it, there would be no limits on the most powerful weapons ever created, and no formal system to verify each side’s actions.

Pope Leo’s appeal comes at a critical moment. As conflicts continue around the world and trust between major powers remains low, his call serves as a reminder that peace and security depend on dialogue, restraint, and shared responsibility.