Pope Warns of New Arms Race as US-Russia Treaty Nears Expiry

Pope Leo XIV warned Wednesday of the risk of "a new arms race" as the last US-Russia nuclear treaty is set to expire. 

New START, the last nuclear treaty between Washington and Moscow after decades of agreements dating to the Cold War, is due to expire on Thursday, and with it restrictions on the two top nuclear



powers. 

"I urge you not to abandon this instrument without seeking to ensure that it is followed up in a concrete and effective manner," the American pope said at his weekly general audience.

"The current situation requires us to do everything possible to avert a new arms race, which further threatens peace between nations," he said.