Lilly Post and Mia Clarke
While previous generations held their breath through the Cuban Missile Crisis, debated Reagan's Star Wars system proposal, or celebrated deep cuts in weapons at the end of the Cold War, one of Gen Z’s first major cultural encounters with the history and dangers of nuclear weapons was “Barbenheimer” weekend. Masked by box office competition, this weekend marked a deeper moment, when the dangers of nuclear weapons entered pop-culture dialogue. Now, at an important nexus in nuclear policy, Gen Z is ready to lead the conversation not only on what we can do to combat the dangers of nuclear weapons, but what we should do.
Luckily, the Catholic Peacebuilding Network can offer some guidance on those questions. Since 2014, its “Project on Revitalizing Catholic Engagement on Nuclear Disarmament” has sponsored high-level convenings of church leaders, scholars and policymakers, published ground-breaking books and articles on ethics, policy and nuclear disarmament, and organized institutes and webinars for students from around the world.
In August 2025, the program undertook its most significant endeavor since COVID-19 by participating in a pilgrimage to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings. Fr. Bob Dowd led a Notre Dame delegation of professors and students that joined delegations from other U.S. and Japanese universities. Cardinals Robert McElroy (Washington) and Blase Cupich (Chicago), as well as Archbishops John Wester (Santa Fe) and Paul Etienne (Seattle), led the pilgrimage.
Over the course of five days, Notre Dame students participated in meaningful discussions on the implications of nuclear weapons for our generation and listened to reflections from international religious and political leaders on the ethics of nuclear deterrence. Following the pilgrimage, student leaders – those who participated in the pilgrimage and many who did not – have convened for virtual meetings and webinars to build on these discussions. This pilgrimage sparked international dialogue on the ethics of nuclear weapons, but it is also proof that the next generation is ready and willing to tackle this issue.
A key player in the new nuclear arena will be universities. On the recent pilgrimage to Hiroshima, Father Bob remarked, “We are at a critical moment in the nuclear age. On one hand, there is hope in achievements such as the fact that nuclear weapons have not been used in war since Nagasaki…On the other hand, we are in a new Cold War and arms race, with arms control treaties discarded and major nuclear powers ‘modernizing’ their arsenals with trillions of dollars.” Universities are uniquely positioned to bridge generations with vastly different nuclear experiences, and they must embrace this responsibility by fostering dialogue across disciplines and generations in pursuit of a more peaceful nuclear future.
Amidst a rapidly advancing technological environment, volatile and disruptive U.S. foreign policies, and the expiration of the New START Treaty—the last nuclear arms treaty between the United States and Russia—it is more important than ever that our generation is engaged, educated and vocal about a future free from the fear of nuclear war.
One of the most difficult aspects of nuclear weapons is how easy it is to write them off as an impossible problem to solve. Nuclear weapons have imprisoned us in a paradox where the only thing that can keep us safe is also what is most likely to destroy us. However, as in many cases, the easy thing is not always the right thing. While nuclear weapons might seem like an impossible problem to tackle, it’s imperative that we try.
The nuclear threat has led the Catholic Church to reject not only the use of nuclear weapons but even their possession. Although this may seem like a radical stance in an age where nuclear weapons are a widely accepted facet of international politics, it is strongly grounded in the Church’s moral and social teachings. As Cardinal Cupich preached during the recent pilgrimage, “We [Catholics] refuse to accept persistent justifications for atomic bombings as a means of ending war.” He continued to explain that the mere threat of owning or using nuclear weapons is so grave and dangerous that it cannot morally be entertained. Our care and respect for our fellow humans must drive us to prioritize nonviolence and dialogue over weapons.
Any students interested in exploring the theological, ethical or practical implications of the Catholic Church’s teaching about nuclear weapons can explore the Catholic Peacebuilding Network’s website to stay updated and see upcoming events. If you would like to be added to our student mailing list, please contact Mia Clarke at mclarke5@nd.edu.
Originally published by at keough.nd.edu on April 30, 2026.