Lombardi editorial : The family of nations

Sometimes we wonder why a religious authority like the Holy See takes part in the activities of a world assembly such as the United Nations General Assembly, often a theatre of fierce political debate. Given the status of the Holy See as a non-voting Observer, it is enough to read the speech of His Excellency Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary of Relations with States, in the current session.

It is easy to recognise the continuity with the great speeches delivered by the Popes in New York. Pope John Paul II insisted on the fact that the United Nations must be a place where nations recognise one another as members of a “family”, inspired by mutual solidarity and by a concern for the common good of all humanity. In the light of this vision, Pope Benedict XVI developed the concept of the “responsibility to protect”, as a concrete expression of concern for the weakest members of society.

Archbishop Mamberti started from this very point, by applying this responsibility to ongoing humanitarian crises – beginning with the situation of the Horn of Africa – and to the defence of peace, security and human rights. He insisted, too, on religious freedom, which today is too often either blatantly violated or subtly limited by marginalising religion from the life of society. He then turned to the relationship between ethics and economics, which lies at the foundation of the today’s global crisis. He talked about sustainable development, the subject of an upcoming U.N. sponsored international conference, recalling that the awareness of being a “family of nations” guides and supports the sense of responsibility for and protection of the environment, as well as the fight against arms trafficking.

“The family is a community founded on interdependence, on mutual trust, on reciprocal aid, and on sincere respect”, concluded the Archbishop. It is in the interest of every human person to remember this, so that it might become a living reality in the world. It is for this reason above all that the Holy See is in New York.