Pope Set to Address UN;Nuncio Highlights Holy See's Role
(18 Apr 08 - RV) On Friday Pope Benedict XVI is set to make a key note address to
the United Nations in New York.
A central part of the Holy Father’s Apostolic
Voyage to the United States, Pope Benedict is the third Pope to address the international
organisation after Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II.
The Holy Father arrived
in New York Friday following a two day visit to the Archdiocese of Washington DC.
While
in New York, the Pope reside at the Apostolic Nunciature.
Archbishop Celestino
Migliore is the permanent observer for the Holy See at UN headquarters in New York.
He
says in his address Pope Benedict will not focus on specific international trouble-spots,
but will concentrate on the general argument that "our future must be based on respect
for universal truths and our common humanity."
“One awaits the Pope as a moral
authority, capable of instilling goodwill and faith in the future so this is why there
is a great expectation”
Arcbishop Migliore underlines that the Church and
the Catholic voice is held ‘in consideration’ in the context of the United Nations
today, adding; “above all for its contribution to maintain and nourish spirituality
and transcendence, without which society fragments”.
“In addition its message
based on universal fraternity, reconciliation, proximity with man and nature makes
it a natural ally in dialogue and cooperation for development”.
The Archbishop
concludes; “UN agencies funds and programs that operate in the fields of education
and development assistance maintain a relationship of collaboration with the local
churches which are also present in the most remote corners of the earth”.