Happy Easter!
Easter Sunday –"Urbi et Orbi" Blessing of the Holy Father
Image Source: Vatican Media
"Today throughout the world there resounds the message proclaimed two thousand years ago from Jerusalem: “Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, has been raised!” (Mk 16:6)."
Holy See Statements at the UN
Archbishop Caccia Delivers Statement During the 68th Commission on the Status of Women
On March 18, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, delivered a statement during the 68th Commission on the Status of Women. The priority theme was “accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.”
In his remarks, Archbishop Caccia began by highlighting the many challenges women face globally, despite commitments undertaken by States to respect human rights. Among these challenges are subjection to violence and abuse, denial of the opportunity to study, work, and access healthcare. Further, he noted that one in every ten women lives in extreme poverty.
Archbishop Caccia outlined the ways poverty can both cause and exacerbate many social problems affecting women and girls, including limiting access to quality education and healthcare. In particular, he expressed concern about the lack of progress in reducing maternal mortality since 2015. The Holy See delegation hopes that States will fulfill their commitments to ensure that every woman receives prenatal care and gives birth with the assistance of a skilled birth attendant in a healthcare facility, he said.
Archbishop Caccia further renewed the Holy See’s support for the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action’s sections on “the needs of women in poverty, on strategies for development, on literacy and education, on ending violence against women, on a culture of peace, and on access to employment, land, capital, and technology.”
Statement by Archbishop Caccia on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
On March 21, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, delivered a statement at the Commemorative meeting to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The theme of the meeting was “A Decade of Recognition, Justice, and Development: Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent.”
Archbishop Caccia began his remarks by reiterating unequivocally the Holy See’s strong condemnation of racism and racial discrimination. Racism is based on a distorted belief in the superiority of one person over another, he said; it is an affront to the inalienable God-given dignity of all human beings.
The fight against racism must begin at its source, Archbishop Caccia stated, which is ignorance and prejudice, often the result of inadequate education. He emphasized the crucial role of education in promoting fraternal relations, which begins with the family.
Archbishop Caccia highlighted that many migrants or refugees of African descent who leave or are forced to leave their homelands face racism and intolerance in their countries of destination. Every member of the same human family, he said, deserves food, access to housing, healthcare and education, dignified work, and a place where he or she is understood, included, loved, and cared for.
Holy See Mission Organizes Four Side Events during the 68th Commission on the Status of Women
"Innovative Partnerships to end trafficking in women and girls" with the Santa Marta Group
Photo by Jackalyn Ballard
On March 14, 2024, the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, in partnership with the Republic of the Philippines and the Santa Marta Group, hosted a side event in conjunction with the 68th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) entitled, “Innovative partnerships to end trafficking in women and girls: The Santa Marta Group model." The event convened distinguished speakers who shared their experiences in working to end human trafficking through innovative partnerships and strategic collaboration.
The recorded event can be viewed here: http://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1j/k1jcks8ywd
"Fragile contexts, strong women: the role of religious leaders and faith-based organizations in promoting women's leadership" co-organized with Caritas Internationalis
Photo by Hazel Fernandez
On March 19, the Holy See’s Mission to the United Nations and Caritas Internationalis co-organized the CSW68 side event “Fragile Contexts, Strong Women”, which discussed the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) and religious leaders in promoting women’s leadership. As Pope Francis emphasized in his 2021 address to the Women’s Forum G20, “our world needs the collaboration of women, their leadership and their abilities, as well as their intuition and their dedication.”
The recorded event can be viewed here: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1k/k1kbmv6xus
"Too high a cost: End surrogacy now: Preventing the exploitation and commodification of women and children" with ADF International
Photo by Max Yun
On March 20, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, in collaboration with Juristes pour L'Enfance, Le Syndicat de la Famille, and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, held a side event entitled “Too High a Cost: End Surrogacy Now” in conjunction with the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. This event, moderated by Mr. Giorgio Mazzoli of ADF International, aimed to shed light on the growing concerns surrounding the practice of surrogacy, emphasizing its detrimental effects on the dignity and rights of women and children worldwide.
The full event can be viewed here: http://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k15/k15dezq9ig
"Celebrating Ability: Investing in and accompanying children and adults with Down syndrome and their families" with C-Fam
Photo by Matthew Matisz
On 21 March 2024, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations held a side event together with the Center for Family and Human Rights entitled “Celebrating Ability: Investing in and Accompanying Children and Adults with Down Syndrome and their Families,” at UN Headquarters in New York during the Commission on the Status of Women.
The full event can be viewed here: http://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k13/k13hw4vgc7
Life of the Mission
Welcome Back, Ciara!
This month, the Holy See Mission welcomed a former intern, Ms. Ciara Hogan, as a staff member on the Human Rights and Development Team (above). Ms. Hogan previously interned at the Mission from August 2022 until May 2023.
"I'm thrilled to be returning to the Mission as a negotiator. As an intern, I saw the important but challenging role of the Mission's negotiators across UN processes to uphold human dignity and promote and promote authentic human development. As I return nine months later as a negotiator myself, I hope to use my skills and expertise to give voice to the Church's teachings at the UN on issues including development and climate change." Her first month back at the Mission has been busy, Ciara said, but thoroughly enjoyable, and she looks forward to all that is to come.
Happy Birthday
This month, Sister Clara Silvia, OMO celebrated her birthday (above). Ad multos annos!
Delegation Visits to the Mission
Greek Orthodox Delegation to CSW
(Below) On 12 March, 2024, a delegation of girls organized by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America visited the Mission during the Commission on the Status of Women conference (CSW). The delegation of 15 young women met with Archbishop Caccia and members of the Holy See Mission Staff to discuss various issues pending before the CSW conference and larger United Nations.
The Girl Delegate Program of the Greek Orthodox Diocese offers the participants the opportunity to attend side and parallel events during CSW and explore issues such as the climate crisis, education, and human trafficking.
German Model United Nations Delegation
(Below) On 20 March, Students from Germany visited the Mission to hear about the Catholic Church's work within the UN's multilateral diplomacy space. The delegation heard from Archbishop Caccia and Mission staff members about their work and experiences.
The group of twenty students were scholarship holders from two different Christian scholarship foundations (the Bischöfliche Studienförderung Cusanuswerk, which is Catholic, and the Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst, which is Protestant) who were attending the National Model United Nations (NMUN) program in New York City.
Fall 2024 Internship Applications are Open
Since 2015, the Holy See Mission has had 162 interns from 37 countries.
The internship program provides the opportunity for bright, Catholic, English-speaking college graduates or graduate students to gain experience assisting the Holy See in its multilateral work at the UN, seeking to bring the light of Catholic Social Teaching to the debates of the international community.
Our interns are integral to the work of the Holy See at the United Nations. They attend various UN meetings, conferences, and debates, and then prepare reports that, once reviewed, are sent to the Holy See’s central offices in the Vatican. Our interns also assist with the Mission’s conferences, receptions, and cultural events.
There are three internship cycles each year: Fall, Spring, and Summer, and eight internship positions are available per cycle. The Mission is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2024 session, which will run from September through December 2024.
Save the Date:
Path to Peace Gala on May 23, 2024
