In a world brimming with nuclear tensions and saber-rattling leaders, Drew Mariani chats with Msgr. Stuart Swetland about Pope Francis’s bold call for global disarmament, echoing a sentiment shared by popes throughout history. From Pius XII to Benedict XVI, the Catholic Church’s leaders have consistently voiced the need for nuclear disarmament. But Pope Francis cranks up the volume, declaring not just the use but the very possession of nuclear weapons as immoral. 🚫💣

Picture this: Vladimir Putin’s threats echoing around the globe, China bulking up its nuclear arsenal, and countries racing to arm themselves to the teeth. Enter Pope Francis, coming through with a message of peace and a moral obligation for disarmament that extends beyond nuclear weapons to all forms of armament. 🕊️

As Msgr. Swetland, a veteran and the president of Donnelly College, points out, there’s a delicate dance between the moral duty to defend the innocent and the pursuit of a world where trust replaces fear. The plot thickens with insights into the gradual reduction of global defense spending from a whopping 6-6.5% to a more palatable 2-2.5%. Yet, the shadow of rising military expenditure and weapon proliferation looms large. 📉💸

Drew and Monsignor navigate the labyrinth of moral questions surrounding just war, the potential for stronger nations to overpower weaker ones, and the complex path to disarmament. It’s a rollercoaster ride through history, morality, and the quest for peace in a world that often seems to prefer the drumbeat of war. 🎢

A caller, Terry, adds a personal touch with a riveting story about his father, the last man to drop a nuclear bomb, highlighting the haunting legacy of such devastating actions and the hope for a future where they are never repeated. 🕊️🌍

The message is clear: disarmament is a daunting yet noble goal, a moral imperative that demands dialogue, trust, and a transformative shift in how nations interact. Pope Francis’s vision for a world without weapons challenges us to rethink our approach to security, peace, and the common good.

Will humanity answer the call? 🌐💗

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