Space and humanity at
a crossroads:
A new frontier
of the common good
On the occasion of
the launch of the NASA Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026, the Caritas in
Veritate Foundation has released a video featuring reflections and perspectives
on space exploration and the principles that should govern humanity’s
relationship with it. Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, in an interview with
Vatican media, affirms that “space must remain a common good, with clear legal
norms and a sense of responsibility toward all humanity and future
generations.”
By Fabio Colagrande and Eugenio Murrali
On April 1st the
Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in
Florida. It is the second mission of NASA’s Artemis lunar program and the first
to carry astronauts. The mission includes a crew of four astronauts who will
travel beyond Earth’s orbit to perform a wide flyby of the Moon, without
landing. It represents an intermediate step toward Artemis III, the mission
aimed at returning astronauts to walk on the lunar surface 53 years after
Apollo 17, which concluded on December 14, 1972. Space has increasingly become
a subject of discussion within the United Nations. The number of satellites in
orbit has grown exponentially in recent years, highlighting how space has
become a constant theme in debates related to geopolitics, security, and
international relations.
To explore the
significance of space missions, the Caritas in Veritate Foundation, chaired by
Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United
Nations Institutions in Geneva, has produced and released a video, following
last February’s publication: "Outer
Space and Humanity at the Crossroads: A New Frontier of the Common Good." The video offers and
synthesizes reflections on the purpose of exploring the universe, bringing into
dialogue science, theology, and international law, as well as the principles
that should govern humanity’s relationship with it and among human beings in
the face of this work of God.
Your Excellency, why
is reflection on political and regulatory choices for space so urgent?
The Mission of the
Holy See in Geneva and the Caritas in Veritate Foundation, which works in
collaboration with it, are concerned with space, which is God’s creation and
obeys His laws.
To reach Heaven, a
supernatural concept, human beings must behave well also in space, which is
instead a geographical concept, belonging to the physical and biological order.
Space is not terra nullius; it is not a lawless field of conquest governed by the
principle “first come, first served.” This is the origin of the publication’s
title Space and Humanity at a Crossroads, and also of the content of the video
we produced. Humanity is already making decisions about space, moral decisions
that will have long-term impacts and can either build up or destroy humanity.
For this reason, the Church cannot remain indifferent.
In what way?
Looking at space from
an ethical perspective urges us to ask: “Is it right to pursue everything that
we are technologically capable of achieving? How should we do it? What kind of
reality and order do we want to build?” The ethical and multilateral perspective
is precisely what the Foundation’s document and video propose.
What actions, in
particular, are necessary?
Space must remain a
common good, with clear legal norms that, where necessary, are updated with a
sense of responsibility toward all humanity and future generations. When we
presented the publication at the United Nations in Geneva, the testimony of an
astronaut who had spent nearly a year aboard the International Space Station
(Michael Scott Hopkins) made a strong impression on the audience. He described
the so-called overview effect.
What does that
consist of?
It is the change in
perspective experienced by all astronauts in space: the Earth appears small,
fragile, without borders or divisions, a symbol of shared belonging and
collective responsibility. Sadly, this image contrasts with the reality of
wars, abuses, and violence that emerge when we return to viewing the planet up
close. Pope Benedict XVI recalled this in words that remain relevant today,
during a dialogue with astronauts aboard the International Space Station: “ I
think it must be obvious to you how we all live together on one Earth and how
absurd it is that we fight and kill each other.”
So space too is a
common home, with rules to be respected. What specific contribution can the
Church’s social teaching offer in guiding space development toward the common
good?
The Church’s central
message is that we must not turn space into a jungle. It offers humanity a kind
of second chance, inviting us to avoid many of the mistakes made on Earth.
Space must be explored with responsibility, solidarity, and respect for subsidiarity,
for the benefit of present and future generations.
How?
We must prevent it
from becoming a theater of uncontrolled competition, or worse, conflict. The
first practical step the Holy See urges is respect for the Outer Space Treaty,
signed by about 120 states, including all major spacefaring nations. In force for
nearly sixty years (since 1967), it clearly establishes that the exploration
and use of space must be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all
countries. The treaty defines space as the “province of all humankind.” The
Holy See calls for strengthening existing legislation, not abandoning it, to
avoid leaving some countries behind and to preserve care for creation, for
example, through joint projects to remove space debris.
Is there a risk of
militarization in space as well?
Certainly. Existing
international law prohibits placing nuclear weapons or weapons of mass
destruction in orbit, on celestial bodies, or in space, Article 4 of the 1967
Treaty. However, it does not explicitly prohibit conventional weapons or, for
example, cyberattacks, nor does it ban interference with radio signals, which
is already happening, unfortunately.
It is important to
distinguish between using space to support military operations on Earth, such
as through satellites, which is already a reality and the physical deployment
of weapons and their direct use in space.
Is the latter a
concrete possibility?
Some states are
moving toward deploying weapons in orbit, and this increases international
instability, weakens mutual trust, and transforms space from a “province of
humanity,” as defined by the Treaty, into yet another theater of conflict. It
is essential to understand that if a conflict were to directly involve space,
it would likely spare no one on Earth.
Here in Geneva, it is
often said that a war in space could never be won and should never be fought.
For example, it is difficult to see how the principle of distinction, one of
the cornerstones of international humanitarian law, could be respected. Therefore,
many voices, including that of the Holy See, call for strengthening rules,
transparency, and multilateral cooperation to preserve the peaceful use of
space.
How, instead, can
space competition become a positive mechanism for the good of all? How can
space serve human dignity on Earth?
Competition must be
balanced with cooperation. Competition without cooperation leads to
instability, irrational clashes, violence, and even conflict. When oriented
toward peaceful goals and channeled into cooperative forms, competition
stimulates research, but it must translate into shared goods, common standards,
and international partnerships.
With what effects?
Balancing competition
and cooperation helps prevent the commercial use of space from becoming an end
in itself and worsening existing inequalities. A healthy balance enables space
to directly serve human dignity and the common good, for example, in times of
crisis, through emergency communications, satellite data for humanitarian
assistance, or monitoring to protect places of worship. In other cases, it
improves weather forecasting, agriculture, healthcare, and transport, and
reaches countries and communities that would otherwise be excluded.
How can science and
faith move forward together in space research?
Science and faith can
walk together and strengthen one another: science seeks scientific truths,
while faith seeks the supernatural Truth, the truth about God and from God,
which illuminates the human path. They neither overlap nor contradict each
other. Science explains the “how,” while faith illuminates and guides the
ultimate “why” of human action. In the context of space, this means using
technical and scientific expertise for the common good, ensuring that progress
does not become domination or destruction.
What role can the
Holy See play?
The Holy See can and
must play a role in ongoing debates on space first and foremost at the
intergovernmental level by enlightening consciences and addressing the whole
world, including the commercial and industrial sectors. Internationally,
through its missions in Geneva, New York, and Vienna, it proposes an ethical
framework centered on human dignity and contributes to multilateral dialogue
and peace, promoting a shared sense of responsibility with space understood as
a common good.
Moreover, the Caritas
in Veritate Foundation, in collaboration with the Mission in Geneva, organizes
events in Geneva, Brussels, Vienna, and New York, and produces publications and
videos such as those released in recent days. It should also be remembered that
the Holy See operates one of the oldest astronomical observatories in
existence—the Vatican Observatory, established in its current form by Pope Leo
XIII in 1891, affirming that the Church does not oppose true, sound science,
but rather encourages and promotes it with full commitment.
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