Pope Francis called for an end to global production and use of anti-personnel explosives in a message delivered at an international summit on abolishing landmines, one week after U.S. President Joe Biden approved Ukraine’s use of American land mines in the Russia-Ukraine war.
A Message of Unity and Compassion
“Conflicts are a failure of humanity to live as a single human family,” the Holy Father expressed in his letter, which was read by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin at the Fifth Review Conference on the Convention of Anti-Personnel Landmines in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
“These treacherous devices continue to cause terrible suffering to civilians, especially children,” he added.
The Ottawa Treaty and Global Participation
The International Mine Ban Treaty, also known as the Ottawa Treaty, is an international agreement to end the production and use of anti-personnel mines that went into force in March 1999. One hundred and sixty-four state parties have formally agreed to abide by the agreement, including Ukraine.
The pope “urges all states that have not yet done so to accede to the convention, and in the meantime to cease immediately the production and use of land mines,” Parolin stated to the delegation.
Nations Outside the Agreement
The United States, Russia, and China are among the 33 states which have not yet agreed to abide by the agreement.
Francis also appealed to countries that have already entered into the agreement, urging them to renew their commitment to end use of the explosives, stressing that any delays in doing so “will inevitably increase the human cost.”
Tensions Amid Ukraine-Russia Conflict
The Holy Father’s urgent appeal to the convention comes one week after President Biden approved the provision of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, in order to bolster its defense against Russian advances in the east.
Biden’s move to authorize the controversial explosives follows closely his decision to give Ukraine permission to fire long-range American missiles at Russia. The Kremlin has responded by lowering the threshold in which it would use its nuclear arsenal.
Recognizing Efforts to Combat Landmine Use
The Pope this week further recognized the work of the land mine conference, and all of those dedicated to ending use of land mines, as well as those who assist victims’ families.
The Holy Father prayed that the objectives of the conference inspired by the treaty “may become an important step towards a world free of landmines and ensure a truly integral and restorative assistance to victims.”
A Broader Call for Peace
Francis himself delivered a similar pro-peace message at an event on the same day, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Argentina and Chile.
“We do well to commemorate those intense negotiations that, with papal mediation, avoided the armed conflict about to set two brother peoples against each other and concluded with a dignified, reasonable and equitable solution,” the Holy Father said in his address.
Rebuke of Armed Conflicts and Weapons Production
“In this regard, how can I not refer to the many ongoing armed conflicts that remain still unresolved, despite the fact that they cause immense sufferings for the countries at war and the entire human family,” Francis said, further rebuking countries “where there is much talk of peace [but where] the highest yielding investments are in the production of arms.”
“I simply mention two failures of humanity today: Ukraine and Palestine, where people are suffering, where the arrogance of the invader prevails over dialogue,” he told the delegation. Francis has been vocal in his opposition to the ongoing conflicts in both regions since their respective beginnings.
This article was originally published on Catholic News Agency.
