"We ask the risen Jesus, who turns death into life, to change hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness, war into peace. Yes, Christ is our peace, and through him we implore peace for all the world."
- Pope Francis, Urbi et Orbi message, 3/31/13
In his 1972 World Day of Peace Message, in which Pope Paul VI so famously said, "if you want peace, work for justice," he also wrote, "We believe that the idea of Peace still is, and still must be, dominant in human affairs, and that it becomes all the more urgent whenever and wherever it is contradicted by opposite ideas or deeds. It is a necessary idea, an imperative idea, an inspiring idea. It polarizes human aspirations, endeavours and hopes. Its nature is that of an aim, and as such it is at the base and at the goal of our activities, be they individual or collective." Reflections on previous World Day of Peace Messages by the U.S. bishops can be found on our World Day of Peace page.
Learn More
Learn about USCCB’s policy work on the following issue areas.
| Arms Trade | Nuclear Weapons |
| Conscience, War and Peace | September 11 |
| Autonomous Weapons: Landmines and Drones |
Policy and Advocacy Regarding the Arms Trade
Background Information
Sowing Weapons of War: A Pastoral Reflection of the Arms Trade and Landmines
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, June 16, 1995
Brief Overview of Catholic Just War Tradition
A Statement by the United States Catholic Conference, November 1993
2005-Present
Shared Responsibility for the Whole Human Family: A Joint Declaration Towards a Renewed Transatlantic Partnership
Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU (COMECE) and United Sates Conference of Catholic Bishops, June 8, 2021
Letter to U.S. Senate on Crisis in Yemen and U.S. Arms Sales to Saudia Arabia
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, July 19, 2018
Letter Commending Secretary of State Kerry on Arms Trade Treaty and Iran Talks
Bishop Richard E. Pates, October 4, 2013
Letter from 33 National Organizations on Arms Trade Treaty
Bishop Richard E. Pates, August 19, 2013
Letter to Secretary of State Kerry on Arms Trade Treaty
Bishop Richard E. Pates, April 11, 2013
Letter to President Bush before G-8 Summit
Bishop William S. Skylstad, June 28, 2005
Policy and Advocacy Regarding Autonomous Weapons: Landmines, Drones, Cluster Munitions
Background Information
Pope's Prayer Intention – Artificial Intelligence
Pope Francis, November 5, 2020
Fratelli Tutti
Pope Francis, October 3, 2020
Article – Contributions from the Catholic Church to Ethical Reflections in the Digital Era
Members of the Pontifical Academy for Life & Working Group on Roboethics of the Pontifical Academy for Life, May 11, 2020
Rome Call for AI Ethics
Pontifical Academy for Life, February 28, 2020
Conclusive Remarks at the Seminar on the Common Good in the Digital Age
Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, September 26-28, 2019
Ethical Reflections on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems and Augmented Soldiers – with a selection of documents from the Holy See’s engagement on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
Caritas in Veritate Foundation, November 2017
Backgrounder on Armed Drones
January 2014
Backgrounder on Arms Control
February 2008
Backgrounder on Nuclear Arms and Landmines
February 2007
Backgrounder on Nuclear Arms and Landmines
February 2006
Backgrounder on Nuclear Arms and Landmines
April 2006
Sowing Weapons of War: A Pastoral Reflection on the Arms Trade and Landmines
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, June 16, 1995
2020-Present
Statement on Cluster Munitions to Ukraine
Bishop David J. Malloy, July 14, 2023
Statement at the 2021 Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Regarding Possible Options for Addressing the Humanitarian and International Security Challenges
Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, August 5, 2021
Statement at the 2021 Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Regarding Characterization of the Systems under Consideration
Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, August 4, 2021
Statement at the 2021 Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Regarding Exploration of the Potential Challenges to International Humanitarian Law
Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, August 3, 2021
Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Seventy-Fifth Meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations
Pope Francis, September 25, 2020
Letter to National Security Advisor O'Brien Regarding Landmines
Bishop David J. Malloy, March 2, 2020
2019-2010
Statement at the 2019 Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, March 26, 2019
Statement at the 2018 Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, August 27, 2018
Statement at the 2018 Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, April 9, 2018
Message of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum on the Occasion of the Annual Gathering in Davos-Klosters
Pope Francis, January 23-26, 2018
Statement at the 2017 Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, November 13, 2017
Statement at the Informal Expert Meeting on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems
Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, April 11, 2016
Letter to National Security Advisor Rice on Framework for Policy on the Use of Armed Drones
Bishop Oscar Cantú, May 11, 2015
Letter to National Security Advisor Rice Regarding Mine Ban Treaty
Bishop Richard E. Pates, February 12, 2014
Statement at the Annual Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects
Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organization in Geneva, November 14, 2013
Letters to National Security Advisor Donilon and to Congress on the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Targeted Killings
Bishop Richard E. Pates, May 17, 2013
Letter to President Obama Reiterating Call for U.S. to Join Mine Ban Treaty
National Organizations, April 4, 2012
Letter to National Security Advisor Donilon Supporting the Mine Ban Treaty
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, October 28, 2010
Action Alert: Urge President Obama and Senate to Join the Mine Ban Treaty!
June 11, 2010
Letters to Secretary of State Clinton and Secretary of Defense Gates Supporting Mine Ban Treaty
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, May 18, 2010
Letter to President Obama Urging the U.S. to Join the Mine Ban Treaty
National Organizations, March 22, 2010
Prior to 2010
Letter to President Obama Calling for Review of Policy on Cluster Munitions and Landmines
National Organizations, February 10, 2009
Letter to Secretary of State Rice Supporting Convention on Cluster Munitions
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, November 21, 2008
Faith Leaders' Appeal for an International Treaty to Ban Cluster Munitions
April 17, 2008
Letters to Congress on Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2007
Bishop Thomas Wenski, May 1, 2007
Letter to U.S. Senate on the Victim-Activated Landmine Abolition Act
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, September 5, 2006
Letter to Congress in Support of Alternatives to Landmines Language in Department of Defense Appropriations Bill
Bishop John H. Ricard, October 31, 2005
Statement on New U.S. Policy on Landmines
Bishop John H. Ricard, March 1, 2004
Letters to Secretary of State Powell and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld on U.S. Landmines Policy
Bernard Cardinal Law, August 9, 2001
Letter to National Security Advisor Berger on Anti-personnel Landmines
May 26,1998
Launching the Catholic Campaign to Ban Landmines
Bishop James W. Malone, June 12, 1997
Sowing Weapons of War: A Pastoral Reflection on the Arms Trade and Landmines
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, June 16, 1995
Policy and Advocacy Regarding Nuclear Weapons
Background Information
Backgrounder on Nuclear Disarmament and Challenging Increases in Military Spending
January 2020
Backgrounder on Korean Peninsula: Nuclear Disarmament / De-escalation of Conflict
February 2019
Backgrounder on Nuclear Weapons
February 2018
Backgrounder on Nuclear Weapons
March 2017
Backgrounder on Nuclear Arms
September 2015
Backgrounder on Iran
January 2014
Backgrounder on Nuclear Arms Treaties
February 2011
Resources on New START Treaty and Catholic Social Teaching on Nuclear Weapons
April 9, 2010
Backgrounder on Nuclear Arms and Landmines
February 2007
Backgrounder on Nuclear Arms and Landmines
April 2006
Backgrounder on Nuclear Arms and Landmines
February 2006
2020-Present
Letter to Congress on the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act (RECA)
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, May 7, 2024
Statement Calling for Remembrance and Support of Nuclear Arms Control
Bishop David J. Malloy, August 1, 2023
Statement Marking One Year Anniversary of Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Bishop David J. Malloy, February 23, 2023
U.S. Bishops’ Chairman for International Justice and Peace Condemns Threats to Use Nuclear Weapons
Bishop David J. Malloy, September 23, 2022
U.S. Bishops’ Chairman for International Justice and Peace Calls for Progress in Nuclear Disarmament
Bishop David J. Malloy, September 8, 2022
U.S. Bishops’ Chairman for International Justice and Peace Commends Pledge by World Powers to Avoid Nuclear Conflict
Bishop David J. Malloy, January 6, 2022
Letter to Secretary of State Blinken Regarding Negotiations on Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation
Bishop David J. Malloy, September 24, 2021
U.S. Bishops’ Chairman for International Justice and Peace Issues Urgent Call to Extend the New START Treaty
Bishop David J. Malloy, January 15, 2021
U.S. Bishops’ President Reflects on the 75th Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Archbishop José H. Gomez, July 30, 2020
Statement from U.S. Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace Committee on Nuclear Disarmament
Bishop David J. Malloy, February 14, 2020
2018-2019
Letters to Congress Regarding New START Treaty and Maintaining Limits on Russian Nuclear Forces
Bishop David J. Malloy, November 27, 2019
Statement from U.S. Bishops’ Chairman of International Justice and Peace Committee on Nuclear Weapons
Bishop David J. Malloy, November 25, 2019
Letter with the National Association of Evangelicals to Congress Offering Reflections on the Provisions Related to Nuclear Disarmament and the New START Treaty in the National Defense Authorization Act
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio and Rev. Dr. Leith Anderson, August 22, 2019
Chairman of U.S. Bishops' International Justice Committee Statement on INF Treaty Withdrawal
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, February 5, 2019
Letter to National Security Council Special Assistant Hall Regarding Remaining in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and Past Support for the P5+1 Iran Deal
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, May 4, 2018
Letter to National Security Advisor McMaster Regarding Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, February 26, 2018
2016-2017
Letter Urging U.S. Senate to Oppose the Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act
Bishop Oscar Cantú, November 9, 2017
Letter to Secretary of State Tillerson Regarding Inter-related Nuclear Non-Proliferation Efforts: Iran and North Korea
Bishop Oscar Cantú, October 3, 2017
Letter to Secretary of State Tillerson Regarding Crisis on Korean Peninsula
Bishop Oscar Cantú, August 10, 2017
Nuclear Disarmament: Seeking Human Security
Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich, Conference of European Justice and Peace Commissions (Justice & Peace Europe) and Bishop Oscar Cantú, July 6, 2017
Letter to Secretary of State Tillerson on Nuclear Disarmament and Ratification of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
Bishop Oscar Cantú, February 14, 2017
Colloquium on Catholic Approaches to Nuclear Proliferation and Disarmament
Bishop Robert McElroy, May 24, 2016
Letter to Under Secretary of State Gottemoeller Regarding the President's Visit to Hiroshima
Bishop Oscar Cantú, May 6, 2016
Faith and Science Leaders Agree: Reduce the Threat of Nuclear Catastrophe Now I en Español
Signed by Bishop Oscar Cantú for USCCB, May 4, 2016
2015
The Pope and the Bomb: New Nuclear Dangers and Moral Dilemmas
Bishop Oscar Cantú, September 17, 2015
Homily on Peace and a World without Nuclear Weapons for a Mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan
Bishop Oscar Cantú, August 9, 2015
Letter to Congress Welcoming P5+1 Iran Nuclear Agreement
Bishop Oscar Cantú, July 14, 2015
Letter to Secretary of State Kerry on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
Bishop Oscar Cantú, May 12, 2015
Letter to Congress on Negotiations with Iran Regarding Iran's Nuclear Program
Bishop Oscar Cantú, April 13, 2015
Nuclear Disarmament: Time for Abolition
Bishop Oscar Cantú, April 9, 2015
Letter to Secretary of State Kerry on Negotiations with Iran
Bishop Oscar Cantú, April 8, 2015
Letter to Congress Urging Continued Support of Dialogue with Iran Concerning Nuclear Program
Bishop Oscar Cantú, January 13, 2015
2014-2000
Letter to Secretary of Energy Moniz Expressing Concern Over the Expanding of U.S. Budget for Nuclear Weapons
Bishop Richard E. Pates, October 30, 2014
Letter to Congress on Negotiations with Iran Over Its Nuclear Program
Bishop Richard E. Pates, January 6, 2014
Letter to Secretary of State Kerry on Interim Agreement With Iran on Nuclear Program
Bishop Richard E. Pates, November 27, 2013
Letter to President Obama on Nuclear Disarmament and on Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Timothy Cardinal Dolan and Bishop Richard E. Pates, June 25, 2013
Letter to National Security Advisor Donilon on Nonproliferation and Nuclear Weapons
Bishop Richard E. Pates, March 2, 2012
Letter to Secretary of State Clinton Regarding Iran's Compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Most Reverend Richard E. Pates, March 2, 2012
Chairman Commends U.S. Senate Ratification of New START Treaty
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, December 22, 2010
Catholic Bishops, Evangelicals Call for Ratification of New START Treaty
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, December 7, 2010
Letter to U.S. Senate Urging Ratification of the New START Treaty
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, November 29, 2010
Letter to U.S. Senate Regarding Support for the New START Treaty
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, September 17, 2010
Moral Reflections on U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy
Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, April 26, 2010
Letter to U.S. Senate Urging Ratification of New START Treaty
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, April 15, 2010
Letter to President Obama Supporting New START Treaty | en Español
Francis Cardinal George, OMI, President, April 8, 2010
Resources on New START Treaty and Catholic Social Teaching on Nuclear Weapons
April 2010
Remarks on Nuclear Disarmament at Global Zero Summit
Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, February 3, 2010
Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Supporting Global Security Priorities Resolution and Savings from Reducing Nuclear Arsenal
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, November 2, 2009
Letter to U.S. Senate on U.S. Nuclear Policy
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, September 28, 2009
Open Letter to President Obama on Nuclear Weapons
September 18, 2009
Nuclear Weapons and Moral Questions: The Path to Zero
Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, July 29, 2009
Letter to Secretary of State Clinton on U.S. Policy Towards Nuclear Nonproliferation
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, April 8, 2009
Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on Reintroduced Global Security Priorities Act and Nuclear Nonproliferation
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, March 30, 2009
Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on Global Security Priorities Act and Nuclear Arms Reduction
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, July 11, 2008
Letter to U.S. House of Representatives in Support of the Global Security Priorities Act and Nuclear Nonproliferation Efforts
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, February 5, 2008
Letter to U.S. Senate on Funding for Reliable Replacement Warhead Program
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, December 5, 2007
Letter to Secretary of State Rice Regarding Iran's Compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, November 1, 2007
Statement from Religious Leaders on Denuclearization Agreement with North Korea
Ecumenical Church Leaders, July 17, 2007
Letter to Congress Urging End to Funding for Reliable Warhead Replacement Program
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, May 9, 2007
Letters to Senators Brownback, DeWine, and Specter Urging Opposition to Funding for Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator in Defense Authorization Bill
Bishop John H. Ricard, September 1, 2005
Letter to Bishop Nagoya on 60th Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Bishop William S. Skylstad, August 2, 2005
Letter to U.S. Senate on Nuclear Weapons Research Funding
Bishop John H. Ricard, July 18, 2005
Letter to Congress on Research on the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator
Bishop John H. Ricard, May 10, 2005
Statement on Nuclear Weapons
Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, August 6, 2004
Theological and Moral Perspectives on Today's Challenge of Peace
Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, November 10, 2003
Letter to U.S. Senate on Funding for Research on Nuclear Weapons in Appropriations Bill
Bishop John H. Ricard, September 15, 2003
Intervention by the Holy See at the Third Conference on Facilitating the Entry Into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Msgr. Pietro Parolin, Wien, 3-5 September 2003
Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Reflections on Two Anniversaries
Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, August 4, 2003
Testimony on the Moscow Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions Before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Fr. Drew Christiansen, July 23, 2002
Statement on New Nuclear Treaty and U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy
Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, May 24, 2002
Joint Nuclear Reduction/Disarmament Press Release & Statement
Msgr. Dennis M. Schnurr, June 2000
1999 and earlier
Statement Endorsing Arms Treaty and Ban on Nuclear Weapons Tests
Bishop John Glynn, October 7, 1999
Statement on U.S. Senate Rejection of Nuclear Test Ban
Bishop Joseph Fiorenza, October 14, 1999
A Time to Remember War and Recommit to Peace
Most Reverend Daniel P. Reilly, August 2, 1995
Building Cooperative Security Special Problems
Excerpts from The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, November 17, 1993
USCCB Statement: The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace
United States Catholic Conference, November 17, 1993
Statement on the START II Treaty and the Reduction in the Number of Long-Range Nuclear Weapons
Archbishop John R. Roach, January 5, 1992
Statement on the START Treaty
Archbishop John R. Roach, July 18, 1991
Missile Defense: Excerpts from A Report on The Challenge of Peace and Policy Developments 1983-1988
Ad Hoc Committee on the Moral Evaluation of Deterrence
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, June 1988
The Strategic Defense Initiative: Moral Question, Public Choices
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1988
The Challenge of Peace, God's Promise and Our Response
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, May 3, 1983