Strengthening of the status of the Holy See at the UN

On July 1, the General Assembly of the UN, gathered in New York, unanimously approved the text of a resolution recognizing the right of the Holy See to a more active participation in the works of the Assembly, while confirming its status as a permanent observer. In a declaration issued on July 2 by the Vatican press office, its UN representative, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, thanked the Assembly, recalling that this strengthening coincided with the fortieth anniversary of the presence of the Holy See at the UN.

According to him, “this Resolution is an important step forward and reflects the lofty values and collective interests shared by the Holy See and the United Nations.” “We are committed to the same objectives,” he added, “that necessitate the protection of the fundamental human rights, the preservation of the dignity and worth of the human person and the promotion of the common good.”

This text gives the Vatican the possibility of obtaining the right to respond to interventions which refer to the Holy See. It will also be able to circulate its own texts as working documents during General Assemblies of the UN.