Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin says “There is a need for more voices for peace, more voices against the madness of the arms race..."
Cardinal Parolin: A Call for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament
In a poignant interview with the Italian quarterly Dialoghi, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin highlights the increasing fragility of global diplomacy. He critiques the "logic of the strongest" currently dominating international relations and emphasizes the urgent need for a stronger United Nations and the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
Rejecting the Arms Race
The Cardinal offers a sharp condemnation of modern rearmament, arguing that security built on force is an illusion.
“It is a utopia to think that peace is guaranteed by weapons and by balances imposed by the strongest, rather than by international agreements.”
He stresses that the failure to renew atomic reduction treaties has granted "freer rein" to the creation of weapons capable of ending life on earth. He advocates for a fundamental shift in global priorities:
“We firmly believe that arsenals must be emptied, starting with nuclear ones.”
“There is a need for more voices for peace, more voices against the madness of the arms race, more voices... raised in favor of our poorest brothers and sisters, more voices and more proposals.”
The Scars of Global Conflict
Cardinal Parolin describes the war in Ukraine as a "wound" at the heart of Europe, expressing concern that the sheer scale of human suffering and infrastructural destruction is not fully grasped by the global public.
He also addresses the perceived inconsistency in international reactions to different conflicts, specifically comparing the response to Ukraine with the situation in Gaza. He notes a "primacy of power" where international law is invoked "only when convenient."
“I have the impression that the devastation this war has caused in Ukraine is not sufficiently perceived: the enormous human toll, the destruction of cities and infrastructure.”
The Role of Diplomacy and the UN
The Cardinal defends diplomacy as a necessary, though often slow, "art of the possible." He argues that international bodies like the UN are essential to "restrain the logic of the strongest," even if their impact is currently hampered by the power of the veto. Regarding the future of Gaza and the Palestinian people, he is clear:
“I consider it necessary that international bodies and the Palestinians themselves take part, because it is not possible to decide the future of the Strip while ignoring its legitimate inhabitants, who are citizens of the State of Palestine.”
Inconsistencies and Identity
The interview touches on several specific geopolitical regions, from the Holy See's ongoing dialogue with China regarding the appointment of bishops to the importance of respecting Venezuelan self-determination. He also critiques the selective application of religious values in politics, particularly regarding the previous U.S. administration:
“The Christian faith is not a display counter of various products from which the buyer may choose. We cannot claim to love and defend life while caring only about the unborn, without recognizing that the lives of migrants who die at sea are also lives.”
A Warning Against Dehumanization
Cardinal Parolin concludes by warning against the dehumanizing effects of modern technology and the vitriol often found on social media. He maintains that true peace begins with the recognition of our shared humanity.
“We must defend humanity and fight against dehumanization.”
“As Christians, we must oppose this drift through our daily witness: hatred, war, and violence begin when we forget the face of the other.”
Comments