34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

Madam President,

The current spate of conflicts and protracted humanitarian crises, with their consequent trail of devastation and indiscriminate suffering, is a dramatic picture of what Pope Francis has defined as “a third world war fought piecemeal, which, as time passes, seems to become ever more widespread”[1].

For this reason, at the outset of this 34^th International Conference, the Holy See wishes to commend the outstanding contributions of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in providing humanitarian protection and assistance to the victims of war and natural disasters. Such assistance is truly “a visible sign that fraternity is possible”[2], even in the midst of the tragedy of armed conflicts.

The rules and principles of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), developed by the common conscience of peoples in the aftermath of the horrors of deadly conflicts, must remain an essential bulwark to safeguard the God-given dignity of every human being. It is regrettable that such dignity is all too often violated in the name of military or political demands.

It is extremely alarming that, despite the strict obligation to distinguish between military objectives and civilian objects, “there is no conflict that does not end up in some way indiscriminately striking the civilian population”[3]. The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and in the Middle East are two stark examples of such a harsh reality. War is a failure of politics and humanity, a shameful capitulation, a defeat before the forces of evil. Theoretical discussions must be abandoned: slaughtered civilians can never be considered “collateral damage”; refugees, women who have lost their children, the elderly and the sick who cannot receive the care they need, and children who are maimed or deprived of their childhood are the real victims of violence, and this is unacceptable.^[4]

The Holy See also remains deeply concerned about the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas, causing displacement and extensive devastation to towns, schools, hospitals, places of worship and infrastructure vital to the civilian population. Unfortunately, once again, the dramatic reality on the ground offers no doubt about the catastrophic consequences of employing such weapons in these areas.^[5]

Madam President,

We cannot consider conflicts to be inevitable, nor can we deem everything permissible in times of war. Peace and the observance of humanitarian law are not only possible but, moreover, compulsory. In this light, the contribution of all the States and Federations attending this meeting is essential. Goodwill is needed and above all, efforts must be intensified.

War always leaves an indelible mark, which disfigures the bonds between brothers and between nations; it also disfigures those who witness and endure such atrocities.^[6] In this regard, my Delegation wishes to reiterate Pope Francis’ appeal to reject the temptation to see the “other” only as an enemy to be destroyed and wishes to reaffirm that “even amid the devastations of war and conflict every person is immensely sacred”.[7] In this light, the 75^th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions provides an opportunity to reinforce the commitment to comply with IHL in good faith.

It is precisely in the current troubling context that the need for an educational process aimed at disseminating IHL and its ethical foundation becomes even more urgent. In this task, the Movement of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent can count on the unwavering commitment of the Catholic Church, especially in reawakening the public conscience.

This is particularly important in the light of technological advancements and the weaponization of artificial intelligence, which is rapidly becoming a central element in the conduct of hostilities. In this regard, it is profoundly distressing that, in addition to the suffering caused by armed conflicts, the battlefields are progressively becoming testing grounds for more and more sophisticated weapons.[8] The Holy See looks favourably on the efforts to regulate activities in cyberspace. In the interest of the common good, the digital domain should be reserved exclusively for peaceful purposes, cooperation, and mutual enrichment.

Madam President,

The preservation of the centrality and dignity of the human person, the safeguarding of the fundamental principles of humanity, and the defence of the supreme value of life must remain firmly present in the collective consciousness. In order to contribute to such noble tasks, I have the honour to share three formal commitments that the Holy See is pledging to carry out over the next four years:

To continue to promote initiatives for the ongoing formation and support of Catholic military chaplains in international humanitarian law.

To continue to foster greater awareness of the ethical foundations of international humanitarian law and to promote its further development in relation to the protection of humanitarian workers, civil religious personnel and places of worship in the context of armed conflicts, especially those involving non-State armed actors.

To promote interreligious dialogue initiatives, in order to foster mutual knowledge and respect, which contribute to the defence of human dignity and to the advancement of spiritual, moral and social-cultural values that inform international humanitarian law.

War is always a defeat of humanity. In an increasingly interconnected world, it is a deceptive and self-defeating logic to assume that the security and peace of some individuals can be separated from the collective security and peace of others. In conclusion, allow me to renew Pope Francis’ appeal that “not weapons, not terrorism, not war, but compassion, justice and dialogue [be] the fitting means for building peace”.^[9]

Thank you, Madam President.