An instrument of peace, an accelerator of human health and development, a force of integral ecology, and a voice of harmony in troubled times. These were the words Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi used to describe the IAEA in a private audience with Pope Francis in Rome this morning. Meeting with the Pope, who is the head of state of the Holy See, an IAEA Member State, Mr Grossi highlighted peaceful uses of nuclear technology and the benefits they bring, and the two discussed nuclear non-proliferation’s role towards creating a safer and more peaceful world.
“The IAEA, from its own mission and work shares with the Roman Catholic Church a preoccupation and commitment for the welfare and betterment of our global society,” said Mr Grossi in what he described as deeply moving and unforgettable exchange with the Pope.
The meeting took place on the first day of his two-day trip to Rome, where he is meeting both with Vatican and Italian officials.
The Roman Catholic Church, which Pope Francis heads, boasts over 1.3 billion members globally – the largest denomination in Christianity.
In the past, Pope Francis has in a number of messages and documents expressed the Church’s position for a world free of nuclear weapons. He has called for the full implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and has recognized that nuclear energy gives humanity enormous power and possibilities.
