Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life

On Thursday November 2, a panel will gather in Dahlgren Chapel to have a dialogue on the "Moral and Policy Questions on Nuclear Arms and North Korea." This dialogue happens at a critical time when the threat of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities is rising to the forefront, and Pope Francis’ support of nuclear disarmament is becoming increasingly vocalized. While North Korea has been dominating headlines recently, global nuclear armament has been a prevalent issue for some time. The Federation of American Scientists estimates that there are approximately 14,930 nuclear warheads in the world today—down from 70,300 in 1986—of which North Korea has no more than 20. The rising problems associated with nuclear armament are neither new nor limited to North Korea.

On Sunday, October 15 Father Julián Carrón, president of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, and Archbishop Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the United States of America, came together for a conversation on the message of Disarming Beauty—Carrón’s most recent work—and the mission of Pope Francis. What followed was a passionate and powerful reflection on the goals of Pope Francis and the change he is inspiring in the world.