Faith and disarmament: Pope Francis’ stance on nuclear weapons and its impact on Italian civil society

Since the Cold War, Italian civil society organizations (C.S.O.s) have been addressing issues of global peace and security, with particular attention to the threats posed by nuclear weapons. Among numerous C.S.O.s, Catholic organizations have played a significant role in peace and anti-nuclear campaigns in Italy, establishing connections with secular sectors of society. The Catholic Church alternately fostered or constrained these alliances in response to shifting geopolitical dynamics and papal leadership styles. As a leading advocate for global nuclear disarmament, Pope Francis (2013–2025) facilitated greater engagement of Italian Catholic civil society on nuclear issues, encouraging collaboration with secular C.S.O.s and interfaith initiatives. This article examines how Pope Francis’ discourse on the immorality of nuclear weapon possession differs from that of his predecessors and explores its impact on Italian civil society’s activism, coalition-building, and policy engagement in the field of nuclear disarmament.