Apostolic Journey of His Holiness
Pope Francis to Hungary
28-30 April 2023
Image source: Vatican Media
On April 28, 2023, the Holy Father arrived to Budapest for his Apostolic Journey to Hungary. He will remain there until 30 April.
Click here to view the itinerary.
"In the world in which we presently live, however, that passionate quest of a politics of community and the strengthening of multilateral relations seems a wistful memory from a distant past. We seem to be witnessing the sorry sunset of that choral dream of peace, as the soloists of war now take over...Peace will never come as the result of the pursuit of individual strategic interests, but only from policies capable of looking to the bigger picture, to the development of everyone: policies that are attentive to individuals, to the poor and to the future, and not merely to power, profit and present prospects."
–His Holiness Pope Francis, Address to the Diplomatic Corps
Budapest, Hungary, 28 April 2023
Read the full address here.
60th Anniversary of Papal Encyclical "Pacem in Terris"
Image source: National Catholic Register
April 11, 2023 marked the 60th anniversary of the publication of Pope John XXIII’s final papal encyclical, Pacem in Terris, or “Peace on Earth.” The official title of the encyclical is “On Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity and Liberty.” Pope John XXIII began writing the document in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and it is often described as the Pope’s last will and testament. He passed away just two months after its promulgation.
On the occasion of the publication anniversary, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See, offered his reflections in an interview with L'Osservatore Romano.
"The encyclical was written after the first great international crisis in which the so-called “Cuban Missile Crisis" and its nuclear threat put the world at risk of planetary destruction. The encyclical allowed us to once again view a sky cleared of the clouds that had gathered, and to rediscover the polar star, which indicates the direction of the path, rather than the concrete roads to be undertaken."
–Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, to L'Osservatore Romano
To read Archbishop Caccia's full 11 April 2023 interview in English, click here.
Read the full encyclical "Pacem in Terris here.
Statements
Archbishop Caccia Delivers Statement at the 56th Commission For Population And Development
On 11 April 2023, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, delivered a statement during the Fifty-Sixth Session of the Commission on Population and Development. The theme of the Commission is “population, education, and sustainable development.”
In his remarks, Archbishop Caccia stated that the promotion of the integral human development of every man, woman, and child must always be at the core of development policies, which must respect life from conception to natural death. Policies that view population growth as a disruptive force to contain using fertility reduction strategies are at odds with the inherent dignity of the human person, he said, and contribute to what Pope Francis has called a “throwaway culture.”
In this regard, Archbishop Caccia emphasized the role of education as a fundamental enabler of integral human development. The purpose of education, he said, is to allow each person to realize his or her full potential and assimilate fundamental values and virtues, thus shaping his or her own future.
Read the full statement here.
Archbishop Caccia Addresses the 22nd UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
On 18 April 2023, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, addressed the 22nd Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The topic of the Session was “Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health, and climate change: a rights-based approach.”
During his remarks, Archbishop Caccia expressed the Holy See’s appreciation for the work of the Forum and offered observations on the role Indigenous Peoples play in the areas of health and care for the environment.
First, regarding health, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) affirms the right of Indigenous People to their traditional medicines and to maintain their health practices. Archbishop Caccia stressed the importance of culturally sensitive healthcare.
Second, Indigenous Peoples, despite having a minimal impact on climate change, are among the first to face its consequences. Archbishop Caccia called on States to value the cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples to open pathways for better environmental management.
Third, recognizing Indigenous Peoples as irreplaceable custodians of biodiversity, Archbishop Caccia emphasized that any effort to achieve the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Diversity Framework must respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Read the full statement here.
Holy See Statement At The 13th Session Of The Open-Ended Working Group On Ageing
On 3 April 2023, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, addressed the 13th session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing at the United Nations Headquarters.
In his remarks, Archbishop Caccia affirmed the equal dignity of all people “in every phase of life, until natural death.” To this end, he said, any society which cherishes its older persons and seeks to include them fully should shape domestic law to strengthen accessible and affordable social protection, home-based assistance, and quality healthcare. In addition, policies supporting the wellbeing of the family should also be strengthened, because the family provides the primary support for grandparents and elderly family members, he stated.
Archbishop Caccia further relayed the Holy See’s position that the practices of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia are the ultimate form of social exclusion and a perversion of the medical profession. Rather than offering “suicide,” he called on society to offer “compassionate accompaniment” for elderly persons.
Read the full statement here.
Other Holy See Statements Delivered this Month
Holy See Statement To Financing For Development Forum
On 18 April 2023, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, addressed the 2023 Session of the Financing for Development Follow-up Forum.
Read the full statement here.
Holy See Statement During Opening of Working Group II on Outer Space
On 5 April 2023, Archbishop Caccia delivered a statement during the opening of Working Group II on Outer Space at the United Nations Disarmament Commission.
Read the full statement here.
Holy See Statement During Opening of Working Group I on Nuclear Weapons
On 5 April 2023, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, delivered a statement at the opening of Working Group I on Nuclear Weapons at the United Nations Disarmament Commission.
Read the full statement here.
Holy See Statement During the United Nations Disarmament Commission
On 18 April 2023, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, addressed the 2023 Session of the Financing for Development Follow-up Forum.
Read the full statement here.
Life of the Mission
This month, the Mission celebrated the birthday of Ms. Daniela Saffie, intern (above).
Yusra Mardini is a Syrian refugee and Olympic swimmer who has been a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador since 2017. She is working on creating opportunities for refugees to participate in sport as a means to finding belonging in their host communities. Mardini visited the Holy See Mission this month to discuss her work with Archbishop Caccia and Mr. Jeremy Faust, an Attaché (below).
This year’s Honoree is Mr. Filippo Grandi, who currently serves as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva. He previously held positions as Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and before that was the United Nations Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan. He has spent much of his working life striving to bring relief and assistance to thousands who have fled home and country for safety from conflict and war. Sadly, there is much work for him as peace continues to elude us in over twenty-five regions of the world.
In January 2023, Mr. Grandi was received in a private audience with the Holy Father, Pope Francis to discuss his current work and the great needs attached to it.
The Gala will take place on Wednesday, May 17th, at The Pierre Hotel, 2 E 61st Street and 5th Avenue, New York.
It will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m.
We hope that you will be able to join us! For more information regarding purchasing tables or seats, contact by email gala@pathtopeacefoundation.org.
Tickets are still available!
The Path to Peace Foundation
212.370.7885 X 127
Email: gala@pathtopeacefoundation.org