Vatican says outer space must be used for common good

Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, told the UN General Assembly on October 27 that space offers “unprecedented opportunities” in terms of cooperation and scientific discoveries. However, he warned of worrying trends.

The buildup of weapons in outer space is a “genuine and grave” threat to international peace and security, he said, and anti-satellite systems and the accumulation of debris in low Earth orbit undermine international peace and security, as well as the long-term sustainability of space activities.

The Holy See representative reiterated that outer space must be used exclusively for peaceful purposes, “for the benefit of all humanity”. This vision is already enshrined in the Outer Space Treaty, Archbishop Caccia noted, which recognises these areas as a “common good” to be protected for future generations, preserving them from the exclusive interests of states or private entities.

This, Archbishop Caccia warned, must not lead to a “repetition of past conflicts” or transform space into “a theatre of competition that endangers everyone”. States, rather, share the responsibility to cooperate and “embrace multilateralism”, and “advance the common good in their activities in space”.

Archbishop Caccia expressed his hope that outer space would be used to “strengthen solidarity” rather than to “extend earthly rivalries into the cosmos”. The objective, he said, is to “ensure that outer space remains a domain of hope, progress and shared responsibility for generations to come”.

FULL STORY

Holy See: Space-based weaponry poses ‘genuine and grave’ threat (By Edoardo Giribaldi/Vatican News)

Space must be safeguarded for the common good, says Vatican diplomat (National Catholic Reporter)