Fabio Colagrande and Eugenio Murrali – Vatican
The launch of the Artemis II mission with astronauts on board, who flew beyond Earth’s orbit to perform a wide flyby around the Moon without landing, is an intermediate stage on the way to Artemis III – a mission aimed at putting astronauts back on the lunar surface, 53 years after the Apollo 17 mission, which concluded on December 14, 1972.
Outer space has become a topic of increasingly frequent discussions at the United Nations. To delve into the meaning of space missions, the Caritas in Veritate Foundation, chaired by Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Office in Geneva, in an interview with Vatican News, reflects on the meaning of exploring the Universe – fostering a dialogue between science, theology, and international law – and on the principles that should govern humanity’s actions towards this work of God.
Your Excellency, why is reflection on political and regulatory choices concerning outer space so urgent?
The Holy See’s Mission in Geneva and the Caritas in Veritate Foundation, which collaborates with it, are concerned with outer space, which is a work of God and subject to His laws.
To reach heaven in a supernatural sense, man must act properly also in outer space, which is a geographical concept belonging to the physical and biological order. Outer space is not a no-man’s-land, it is not an area of conquest devoid of laws, where the principle of “first come, first served” applies. Hence the title of the publication Outer Space and Humanity at a Crossroads, as well as the content of the video we prepared. Humanity is already making decisions about outer space — moral decisions that will have a long-term impact and can both build up and destroy humanity. Therefore, the Church cannot remain indifferent to this.
How so?
Looking at outer space from an ethical perspective leads us to ask: “Is it right to pursue everything we are technologically capable of achieving? How should we do it? What kind of reality and order do we want to build?” It is precisely this ethical and multilateral perspective that the Caritas in Veritate Foundation document proposes.
What actions are particularly needed?
Outer space must remain a common good, with clear legal norms that — where necessary — should be updated in a spirit of responsibility towards all humanity and future generations. During the presentation of the publication at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, the testimony of an astronaut who spent almost a year on board the International Space Station (Michael Scott Hopkins — editor’s note) made a great impression on the participants. He described the so-called “overview effect”.
What does it consist of?
It is a change of perspective experienced by all astronauts in space: Earth appears small, fragile, without borders and divisions from there — as a symbol of common belonging and collective responsibility. However, this is an image that unfortunately contrasts with the reality of wars, abuses, and violence that we see when we look at the planet up close again. Pope Benedict XVI recalled this, in words still relevant, during a dialogue with astronauts of the International Space Station. He told them at one point: “I think it is obvious to you that we all live together on one Earth and that it is absurd to fight and kill each other.”
So, outer space is also a common home and subject to specific rules. What particular contribution can Catholic social teaching make to guide the development of outer space towards the common good?
The central message of the Church is that we should not turn outer space into a jungle. It offers humanity a kind of “second chance,” encouraging us to avoid many of the mistakes made on Earth. Outer space should be explored with responsibility, solidarity, and respect for the principle of subsidiarity — for the good of present and future generations.
How so?
It is necessary to prevent it from becoming an arena of fierce competition, let alone conflicts. The first practical step encouraged by the Holy See is adherence to the Outer Space Treaty, signed by about one hundred and twenty states, including all major spacefaring nations. This Treaty has been in force for almost sixty years (since 1967) and clearly states that the exploration and use of outer space should be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all states. It defines outer space as the “common domain of humanity.” The Holy See encourages strengthening existing legislation, rather than departing from it, to prevent the exclusion of some states and to protect creation — for example, through joint projects for space debris removal.
Is there also a risk of militarization of outer space?
Certainly. Existing international law prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction in orbit, on celestial bodies, or in outer space — Article 4 of the 1967 Treaty states this. However, it does not explicitly prohibit conventional weapons, nor, for example, cyberattacks, nor the jamming of radio signals, which — unfortunately — is already happening. It is important to distinguish between the use of outer space as support for military operations conducted on Earth, for example through the use of satellites — which is already a reality — and the physical deployment of weapons and their direct use in space.
Is this second possibility also real?
Some states are also moving towards placing weaponry in orbit, which increases international instability, weakens mutual trust, and transforms outer space from a “common domain of humanity,” as the Treaty defines it, into another area of conflict. However, it must be clearly stated — and this is crucial — that if conflict were to directly involve outer space, probably no one on Earth would remain free from it.
In Geneva, it is said that a war in space cannot be won and should never be fought. For example, it is difficult to imagine how the principle of distinction, one of the foundations of international humanitarian law, could be observed. Therefore, many voices — including that of the Holy See — call for strengthening norms, transparency, and multilateral cooperation to preserve the peaceful nature of outer space.
How, then, can space competition transform into a positive mechanism for the common good? How can outer space serve human dignity on Earth?
A balance must be found between competition and cooperation. Competition without cooperation leads to instability, irrational tensions, violence, and even conflicts. However, competition directed towards peaceful goals and framed within cooperation stimulates research, but it should translate into common goods, common standards, and international partnerships.
With what effects?
The balance between competition and cooperation helps prevent the commercial exploitation of outer space from becoming an end in itself and from exacerbating existing inequalities. Such a balance ensures that outer space can directly serve human dignity and the common good — for example, in crisis situations, through emergency connectivity, satellite data used in humanitarian aid, or monitoring for the protection of places of worship. In other cases, it contributes to improving weather forecasts, agricultural development, health protection, transport, and reaching countries and communities that would otherwise remain excluded.
How can science and faith go together in this field of space research?
Science and faith can go together and mutually reinforce each other, because science seeks scientific truths, and faith seeks supernatural Truth, the truth about God and from God, which illuminates man’s path. Faith and science do not mix, but they also do not contradict each other. Science explains “how,” while faith reveals and guides the ultimate “why” of human action. In the context of outer space, this means using technical and scientific competencies for the common good, so that progress does not turn into domination or destruction.
What role can the Holy See play?
The Holy See can and should play a role in ongoing debates on outer space, primarily at the intergovernmental level. It should shape consciences and speak to the whole world — including the commercial and industrial sectors. In the international arena, through its mission in Geneva and others in New York and Vienna, it proposes an ethical framework based on human dignity and cooperates for multilateral dialogue and peace, emphasizing shared responsibility and the perception of outer space as a common good.
Furthermore, the Caritas in Veritate Foundation, in cooperation with the mission in Geneva, organizes events in Geneva, Brussels, Vienna, and New York, and prepares publications and videos, such as those disseminated in recent days.
It should also not be forgotten that the Holy See possesses one of the oldest astronomical observatories in the world – the Specola Vaticana – established in its current form by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, also to confirm that the Church – as stated in the motu proprio establishing the observatory – does not oppose true, solid science, but on the contrary: supports and develops it with full commitment.
