Statements
This week the Holy See Mission delivered one statement at the UN.
On April 5, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN, gave an intervention during the Fiftieth Session of the Commission on Population and Development on Agenda Item 3(b) dedicated to the theme of “Changing population age structures and sustainable development.”
In his statement, Archbishop Auza said that the world is challenged by a demographic shift from young, growing populations with high fertility and low mortality to older populations with lower fertility, higher mortality and higher consumption. Unfulfilled threats of an impending time bomb led certain governments to draconian population control measures contrary to human dignity, freedom and responsibility, he said, and several nations are experiencing spiraling demographic decline, leading to challenges to provide adequate social care protections and care for the elderly. Demographic growth is fully compatible with shared prosperity, he underlined, if resources are efficiently used and fairly distributed. For sustainable development, developing nations must address corruption and protracted conflicts, he stated, and developed nations the high levels of consumption, trade imbalances, and environmental degradation. Solidarity, peace, security, respect for life from conception to natural death, education, health-care, clean water access, adequate housing and sanitation, must all inform public policy and the elderly, disabled and most vulnerable must be included in all aspects of life, because their value is far more than their capacity for economic contribution, he stated.
His statement can be found here.
Interview sheds light on the early priesthood of Archbishop Auza
In the first interview of a two part series with The Friends of the Word, Inc., Archbishop Auza shares his a personal history of experiences of his early life as a priest, and the turn of events that brought him to the Holy See Diplomatic Corps, ultimately leading to his role as the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN. In the interview, Archbishop Auza also shares his experiences as a diplomat in Madagascar, Bulgaria, Albania, Rome, Haiti and the United Nations, and discusses the spiritual elements of serving the Church as a diplomat.
To watch Part One of the interview, please click here.
Young Holy See Mission representative places third at a UN Chess Match against World Champion
With a focused facial expression and his feet dangling from the floor, Nathan Booncharoen, age 8, represented the Holy See Mission in a UN chess match against World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov. Although he was the youngest player, Nathan outlasted 12 of Karpov’s 15 opponents, who included diplomats and UN personnel, at the simultaneous chess match hosted by the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN, UNA Russia, and WFUNA, in commemoration of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
Nathan's father, Aikalak Booncharoen, has been a staff member of the Holy See Mission for 20 years, serving as the porter and driver. Nathan saw the chess match with Karpov as a consolation prize for staying behind while his nine-year-old sister, Emily, who also excels at the game, was away for at a chess tournament in Chicago.
"I would rather play Karpov!" he said, adding that his favorite part was getting the autograph of his hero --and now former opponent.
Upcoming Events
These are the events for which we are presently taking sign-ups. Due to heightened UN security, please be sure to register by the deadline, providing the name that exactly corresponds to your state-issued ID. More information regarding each event will be provided shortly. Please contact event@holyseemission.org with any questions.
May 10: An Evening with Raphael: Raphael's Art and Human Dignity
6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
UN Headquarters, Conference Room 4
RSVP at holyseemission.org/rsvpMay10
May 12: The Centenary of Fatima and the Enduring Relevance of Its Message of Peace
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
UN Headquarters, Conference Room 2
RSVP at holyseemission.org/rsvpMay12
Please join us for the 26th Anniversary Path to Peace Gala Dinner on Wednesday, May 24 at the Pierre Hotel. The 2017 Path to Peace Award will be presented during the dinner to Mario Cardinal Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio to Syria in recognition of his work defending Christians and other victims in the Middle East.
To register for the gala dinner, please visit holyseemission.org/PathtoPeace2017