POPE LEO XIV asks DISARMAMENT talking to Vance, US Answers celebrating New “Zionist” Nuclear Bomb B61-13
Pope Leo XIV: “Yes” to peace, “no” to the arms race and “Yes” to disarmament
by Carlo Domenico Cristofori
The new Pontiff launches a new appeal for disarmament but the USA responds by presenting a new generation nuclear bomb with the Israeli Star brand. Confirming that the self-styled American Catholics Donald Trump, POTUS, and James David Vance, vice president, feel much more Zionists than Christians…
Pope Leo XIV officially began his pontificate with the Holy Mass on Sunday before the leaders of many nations and about 200,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter’s.
«Yesterday, Monday 19 May, the Holy Father received in audience the representatives of other Churches and ecclesial communities and other religions and urged them to make a common commitment, free from ideological and political conditioning, for peace in the world. He encouraged the ecumenical journey, urged them to continue the dialogue between Jews and Christians and to base relations with Muslims “on mutual respect and freedom of conscience”» Vatican News has reported.
In the opening words of the Pontiff, he greeted all the participants in the audience and gave a special thought to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew, to the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilus III and to the Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III, to whom he expressed his “fraternal affection”.
Then, turning to the representatives of other religious traditions, the Pope expresses his “gratitude” for their contribution to peace.
«In a world wounded by violence and conflict, each of the communities represented here brings its own contribution of wisdom, compassion, commitment to the good of humanity and the protection of our common home. I am convinced that, if we are in agreement and free from ideological and political conditioning, we can be effective in saying “no” to war and “yes” to peace, “no” to the arms race and “yes” to disarmament, “no” to an economy that impoverishes peoples and the Earth and “yes” to integral development».
Pope Leo XIV meets with US Vice President Vance
The Holy See Press Office announced that Pope Leo XIV met with the Vice President of the United States of America, James David Vance, on Monday morning. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and their wives were also present at the audience.
The US Vice President and Secretary of State represented the United States at the Pope’s Mass of Inauguration of his Petrine Ministry on Sunday morning in St. Peter’s Square.
After the private audience with the American-born Pope, Mr. Vance met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. During the “cordial” talks in the Secretariat of State, Mr. Vance and Archbishop Gallagher reiterated the good bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States.They also discussed the collaboration between the Church and the US government, along with several matters “of special relevance to ecclesial life and religious freedom.”
“Finally, there was an exchange of views on some current international issues, during which hope was expressed that humanitarian law and international law be respected in areas of conflict and that there be a negotiated solution between the parties involved,” noted the Holy See Press Office.
The United States has completed assembly of the first nuclear bomb B61-13
This is the answer of the US to the appeal of disarmement…
«The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced that assembly of the first B61-13 nuclear bomb has been completed at the Pantex facility in Amarillo, Texas, nearly a year ahead of schedule» Avia Pro has reported.
The U.S. Department of Energy press office, Defense News, and The Aviationist reported on May 19, 2025. The bomb’s development, which began in 2023, was one of the fastest in the history of the U.S. nuclear arsenal since the Cold War. The bomb is designed to destroy heavily fortified underground military installations, such as command bunkers and weapons depots, and will be used by strategic bombers, including the B-21 Raider.
The B61-13 is the latest modification of the B61 family of gravity bombs, which has remained the mainstay of the airborne component of the U.S. nuclear triad for more than 50 years. The bomb builds on the proven production capabilities of the B61-12, the last batch of which was completed in December 2024, the NNSA said. The B61-13 has the same safety, precision and control systems as the B61-12, but has a higher maximum yield, reaching 360 kilotons (24 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima).
U.S. Energy Secretary personally awarded the first bomb
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who personally awarded the first bomb the Gold Star of Merit in a ceremony on May 19, said: “The speed of production of the B61-13 demonstrates the ingenuity of our scientists and the urgency of strengthening deterrence in a new, volatile era.”
He stressed that the bomb signals to adversaries and allies that the United States is prepared to meet modern challenges. The start of full production of the B61-13 in 2026 will not increase the overall arsenal, as each new bomb will replace a B61-12 and will also allow the retirement of the obsolete B61-7 and B83-1 megaton bombs.
The development of the B61-13 was controversial. The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) argues that its creation was more of a political move to convince Congress to retire the B83-1 than a military necessity, as the B61-12 is already capable of hitting most targets with less collateral damage. The high precision of the B61-13, provided by its Tail Navigation Assemblies (TKA), allows it to deliver strikes with an effect equivalent to a one-megaton explosion on the surface, exploiting the phenomenon of seismic impact.
Carlo Domenico Cristofori
SOURCES
GOSPA NEWS – WEAPONS LOBBY DOSSIER
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