Pope Benedict XVI called on April 5 for all nations to end the production, stockpiling and use of land mines and cluster bombs. He also expressed his support for programs and measures that “guarantee the necessary assistance to victims of such devastating weapons.” He noted that 10 years have passed since the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty first took effect. Signatories to the treaty agree to ban the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of antipersonnel mines. The Convention on Cluster Munitions, which would similarly prohibit cluster bombs and munitions, was recently adopted and is open for signatories, the pope added. “I wish to encourage countries that still haven’t done so to sign without delay.” The United States is a signatory to neither treaty.
Pope Joins Call for Weapons Ban
Show Comments (
)
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
The latest from america
As we enter into Holy Week, join America Media for a subscriber-only virtual event with James Martin, S.J., and ‘Jesuitical’ hosts Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless.
“Having a sensory room in a place of worship is probably more important than anywhere else because everyone should feel welcome in their faith.”
Sports hasn't always been the most popular topic among America's editors and contributors—unless it was the Grand Old Game, baseball.
A joint Catholic-Evangelical report found that an overwhelming majority of people impacted by the Trump administration's mass deportations are Christian.