Archbishop Christophe El Kassis urged nations to treat outer space as a shared responsibility during his Oct. 28 address to the United Nations General Assembly.

El Kassis called for responsible stewardship of space and said exploration and use should serve all peoples without producing new inequalities or exclusions. He described outer space as a common good entrusted to the entire human family and cited the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations said space-based technologies could help address climate change, food insecurity, water scarcity and natural disasters.

“Space-based technologies represent a valuable means of addressing the pressing challenges facing our planet,” El Kassis said.

He called for expanded international cooperation, capacity-building and the sharing of scientific knowledge, along with greater care for the space environment.

El Kassis identified orbital congestion, space debris and expanding commercial activity as challenges requiring a coordinated international response. “Increasing orbital congestion and space debris, coupled with growing commercial activities, present challenges that require a coordinated international response,” he said.

He also urged stronger multilateral cooperation and mutual trust, calling on states to preserve outer space as a realm of peace, stability and cooperation for future generations.