Mesures prises:
The Holy See wishes to provide a follow-up to the implementation of this pledge. In this regard, the Holy See, through its Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, has organized an International Course for the Formation of Catholic Military Chaplains in International Humanitarian Law (IHL) on 13 February 2024. The theme of the Course was “The Protection of Humanitarian Workers, Civil Religious Personnel and Places of Worship in the Context of Armed Conflicts, Especially Those Involving Armed Non-State Actors”. It was attended by military ordinariate bishops, religious personnel from different countries experiencing (or having recently experienced) armed conflicts and humanitarian crises, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and representatives of civil society and academia. The aim of the course, which was held in blended format, was to explore the role that military chaplains can play in bridging the existing gap between reality and the law in reference to the protection of humanitarian workers, civil religious personnel, and places of worship. The course also aimed to raise awareness of the need for military personnel to consider the principle of humanity in the many moments when they are called upon to make difficult decisions (for example, whether or not to attack a building). While such decisions undoubtedly have a tactical or strategic component, they are, first and foremost, ethical decisions. Noting that the International Course for the Formation of Catholic Military Chaplains in International Humanitarian Law took place in the year in which the international community celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, the Holy See hopes that the Seminar has contributed to the dissemination of IHL and its implementation, firmly convinced that one of the highest aspirations of humanity is the abolition of conflict and the achievement of peace and justice.