A leading Vatican diplomat said that the Holy See is “deeply concerned” about the “risks posed to nuclear facilities by armed conflict,” particularly the “ongoing precarious situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the damage to the New Safe Confinement Shield at Chernobyl.”
Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, told participants in a recent UN General Assembly committee meeting that “any incident resulting in the uncontrolled release of radioactive materials could have devastating consequences for civilian populations and the environment, with effects potentially extending beyond national borders.”
“In situations of armed conflict, it is of crucial importance to ensure the safety and security of nuclear facilities, in order to prevent further humanitarian and environmental harm,” he added.