On November 25, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, representing the Holy See at the United Nations Office in Geneva, amplified Pope Francis’s urgent call to eliminate the production and use of landmines worldwide.

This plea, expressed in a message signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, was addressed to the Fifth Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Pope Francis’s message urged all nations yet to accede to the Convention to take immediate steps towards ratification and, in the interim, to halt the production and deployment of these deadly devices.

“Conflicts are a failure of humanity to live as a single human family,” the Pope emphasized, lamenting that landmines and victim-activated explosive devices remain tools of destruction even 25 years after the Convention came into effect.

The Vatican lauded the Convention as a landmark success in disarmament diplomacy, rooted in the recognition of human dignity and shared responsibility. This multilateral framework has inspired subsequent treaties aimed at reducing the human cost of war.

Yet, the persistence of landmine use reveals the challenges ahead. These devices not only kill and maim indiscriminately but also disrupt livelihoods, hinder reconciliation efforts, and perpetuate fear long after conflicts have ended. Tragically, children are often among the most vulnerable victims.

The rising toll of landmine victims in recent years prompted Pope Francis to ask: “How many more must bear the scars of conflict before the world acts decisively? When such suffering occurs, humanity as a whole loses, for every human life is sacred.”

The Pope called for urgent action, urging States Parties to the Convention to redouble their efforts in fulfilling commitments, reinforcing international solidarity, and supporting mine-clearance efforts.

He also praised the courageous work of deminers and the non-governmental organizations, including faith-based groups, that assist victims and their families.

The Catholic Church remains steadfast in its commitment to aiding survivors and contributing to global peacebuilding efforts.

Pope Francis concluded with a prayer for the success of the Conference, hoping it will inspire tangible progress towards a world free of landmines.

“May we take another important step in ensuring restorative assistance to victims and achieving lasting peace,” the pontiff implored.