Vatican Issues Video on Ethics in Outer Space as NASA's Moon Mission Begins - Archbishop Balestrero Urges Ethical Responsibility

Space and Humanity at a Crossroads: A New Frontier for the Common Good

To coincide with the launch of NASA’s Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026, the Caritas in Veritate Foundation has released a new video exploring the ethical and legal frameworks necessary for lunar exploration. Featuring insights from Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN in Geneva, the project emphasizes that as humans return to the Moon, they must do so with a shared moral compass.

A Historic Step Toward the Lunar Surface

The Artemis II mission marks a pivotal moment in space history. As the first crewed flight of the Artemis program, its four-person crew will journey beyond Earth’s orbit for a lunar flyby. This mission serves as the essential precursor to Artemis III, which aims to land humans on the Moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission concluded in 1972.

However, with the exponential rise in satellite deployments and shifting geopolitical tensions, the Holy See warns that space is no longer a distant abstraction but a pressing concern for international security and human rights.

Space as a "Common Good"

Archbishop Balestrero asserts that the cosmos should not be viewed as a lawless territory or a prize for the fastest claimant. In an interview with Vatican media, he clarified the Holy See's position:

“Space is not terra nullius; it is not a lawless field of conquest governed by the principle ‘first come, first served.’ Space must remain a common good, with clear legal norms and a sense of responsibility toward all humanity and future generations.”

The Archbishop notes that humanity is currently making moral decisions regarding orbital and lunar activity that will "either build up or destroy humanity."

The "Overview Effect" and Ethical Responsibility

The Foundation’s reflections highlight the "overview effect"—a cognitive shift reported by astronauts who see the Earth from a distance. From orbit, the planet appears as a fragile, borderless whole. Balestrero contrasts this unity with the "absurdity" of earthly conflict, echoing Pope Benedict XVI’s words to the International Space Station:

“I think it must be obvious to you how we all live together on one Earth and how absurd it is that we fight and kill each other.”

Preventing the "Jungle" of Militarization

A primary concern for the Holy See is the potential for space to become a theater of war. While the 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits weapons of mass destruction in orbit, it contains loopholes regarding conventional weapons and cyber warfare.

The Church’s social teaching suggests that space offers a "second chance" for the human race to avoid the colonial and environmental mistakes made on Earth. To ensure this, Balestrero advocates for:

• Strengthening the Outer Space Treaty, which defines space as the “province of all humankind.”

• Multilateral cooperation to remove space debris and ensure developing nations are not left behind.

• Balancing competition with collaboration to prevent commercial interests from eclipsing the common good.

Science and Faith in Dialogue

The Holy See maintains that science and faith are complementary rather than contradictory. While science addresses the technical "how" of exploration, faith provides the "why." By engaging with international bodies in Geneva, New York, and Vienna, the Vatican continues to promote an ethical framework centered on human dignity.

As Balestrero concludes, the goal is to ensure that space remains a domain of peace, managed not by the law of the strongest, but by a shared commitment to the "common home" of all creation.

Source: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-04/space-humanity-at-crossroads-a-new-frontier-of-the-common-good.html