Vatican official tells UN that dialogue is only path to peace

(October 1, 2010) The United Nations might not be perfect, but it has helped humanity move toward a world marked by dialogue, peace and development, a top Vatican official told the United Nations General Assembly. Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Vatican secretary for relations with states (equivalent to foreign minister) said that for the UN and its various agencies to continue being effective, its actions and deliberations must make "constant reference to the dignity of all men and women," to the right to life of all people, including the terminally ill and the unborn, and to religious freedom. Addressing the General Assembly on Wednesday he said that bilateral and multilateral agreements to reduce nuclear weapons, cluster bombs and land mines are important steps toward ensuring a peaceful future for all people, but many countries' national military spending continues to pose a threat both to peace and to the nations' economic development. Archbishop Mamberti also said, “the Holy See encourages all parties involved in resolving various disputes in progress, especially concerning the Korean Peninsula and the Persian Gulf and adjacent areas, to deepen sincere dialogue for a harmonious balance in the rights of all nations involved." He also praised the UN’s work of peacekeeping around the globe and of promoting environmental protection and working toward the adoption of measures to mitigate climate change.