Summary
Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), urged policymakers to renew diplomatic negotiations for the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) before its expiration on February 5. The treaty limits Russian-deployed intercontinental-range nuclear weapons and has been in effect since 2010 between the United States and Russia, signed by then-U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Coakley emphasized that current conflicts around the world, particularly the devastating war in Ukraine, make the treaty’s expiration unacceptable. He called for an urgent need to pursue negotiations to maintain New START’s limits and work towards disarmament. The Pope also stressed the importance of renewing the treaty, warning against a “new global arms race” and urging international leaders to engage constructively in dialogue and mutual trust to prevent nuclear proliferation. Both Coakley and the Pope called for prayers and support for peace and disarmament efforts.
Key Topics
New START Treaty, Ukraine, Pope Leo XIII
