Plaza Hotel, New York, 19 May 2025
Your Eminence(s),
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
I am delighted to be with you this evening for the Path to Peace Foundation’s Annual Gala Dinner. To all of you here present, I bring warm greetings and a special blessing from His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.
These have been historic weeks in the life of the Church and of the world: beginning with the death of the beloved Pope Francis on Easter Monday, and culminating yesterday with the solemn inauguration of the Pontificate of his successor, the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV. It has been a time of sadness and change, but also a celebration of continuity and hope, as we recognise and give thanks for a new Successor of St. Peter, who proclaims the Risen Christ and His message of peace, guaranteeing our steadfastness in the Apostolic Faith.
I am deeply honoured to receive this year's Path to Peace Award. From the outset, however, I want to make clear that I accept it on behalf of the Pope, and, above all, on behalf of the Secretariate of State, which works tirelessly for and on behalf of the Roman Pontiff to advance the cause of peace and justice in our world. It is a recognition of the Holy See’s supportive – though sometimes critical – relationship with the United Nations, and also a tribute to all those dedicated individuals who assist the Pope in his mission. The honour bestowed this evening transcends the personal and embodies the collaborative spirit that underpins our sacred mission in a world crying out for healing and reconciliation.
As the film we have just watched makes clear, this is particularly significant as we commemorate a number of milestones in the enduring relationship between the Holy See and the United Nations. We celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of Pope St. Paul VI’s historic visit to the UN, the thirtieth anniversary of Pope St. John Paul II’s second visit, and the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’s address to the General Assembly. Each Pontiff, in his own time, has shed a light on the path to a more just and peaceful world, offering wisdom that transcends the boundaries of time and speaks to the eternal aspirations of the human heart.
In 1965, Pope St. Paul VI, speaking as “an expert on humanity,”[1] proclaimed with prophetic clarity that the path to lasting peace must be rooted in spiritual and moral renewal. His unforgettable, and oft repeated, declaration – “jamais plus la guerre” (“never again war”) – reverberates through history, challenging us to abandon the destructive logic of violence and retribution. He taught us that authentic peace cannot be merely the absence of conflict, but must flourish from mutual trust and humility, born of a genuine transformation of consciousness – what the Christian tradition calls metanoia, a profound conversion of heart.
“The edifice of modern civilization has to be built on spiritual principles,” Pope Paul VI insisted, “for they are the only ones capable not only of supporting it, but of shedding light on it and inspiring it.”[2] These words retain their urgency today, reminding us that technological progress without moral development leaves humanity perilously imbalanced, capable of extraordinary creation yet vulnerable to catastrophic destruction.
Pope St. John Paul II echoed this message when he first visited the United Nations in 1979, urging humanity to confront its capacity for both tremendous good and unspeakable cruelty. Drawing on his own experience of totalitarianism and war, he recounted the harrowing tragedies of the Holocaust and the Second World War, not just as historical events, but as moral challenges that continue to demand our response. Throughout his Pontificate, he emphasized the importance of understanding the human person and his or her role in shaping society, rather than reducing individuals to mere reactions to historical forces.[3]
His understanding of the human person was rooted in the conviction that each individual possesses an inherent, inviolable dignity. He tirelessly condemned the arms race and called for a renewed respect for human dignity, insisting that spiritual freedom is as essential as economic justice. “Freedom,” he asserted, “is not simply the absence of tyranny or oppression. Nor is freedom a licence to do whatever we like. Freedom has an inner ‘logic’ which distinguishes it and ennobles it: freedom is ordered to the truth, and is fulfilled in man’s quest for truth and in man’s living in the truth.”[4]
At the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations in 1995, John Paul II articulated a vision of freedom rooted in moral truths inscribed on the human heart and called for a “family of nations” built on trust, solidarity, and mutual respect. “The answer to the fear that darkens human existence […],” he proclaimed, “is the common effort to build the civilization of love, founded on the universal values of peace, solidarity, justice, and liberty.”[5]
In 2008 with the visit of Pope Benedict XVI this tradition continued. He focused on the challenges of an increasingly globalized world. He affirmed that international cooperation must be guided by ethical discernment and genuine respect for human dignity, rather than by the mere calculation of interests or the arbitrary exercise of power. Emphasizing that human rights are grounded in universal and immutable truths, and not shifting legal interpretations, he stressed that the protection of human dignity is not only the obligation of individual States, but of the international community as a whole, and a collective responsibility.
When Pope Francis visited New York a decade ago, he expressed his appreciation for the United Nations, declaring it “necessary” to address the complex challenges facing humanity. With characteristic directness, he spoke of the interconnectedness of environmental protection and social justice, boldly criticizing the prevailing “culture of waste” that discards the poor and vulnerable.
The tradition lives on, and today we are blessed to witness the beginning of a new Pontificate that brings fresh hope and renewed vigour to the cause of peace. Pope Leo XIV’s very first words after his election were a blessing of peace: “the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally.”[6] His deeply comforting message echoed across a world torn by conflict and division; an invocation of peace that is not merely the absence of violence, but a positive force that transforms and uplifts human relationships.
Pope Leo XIV’s choice of name evokes the legacy of Pope Leo XIII. Indeed, in explaining his choice, Pope Leo XIV singled out the Encyclical Letter Rerum Novarum, in which Pope Leo XIII “addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution.”[7] He went on to highlight the enduring relevance of the Church’s social teaching, noting the guidance it offers “in response […] to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.”[8]
Let us keep the Holy Father in our prayers, and ask the Lord’s blessing upon him to strengthen him in His ministry.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The path to peace must be walked with patience and perseverance, with courage and creativity. The Popes have shown us the way. It demands that we recognize our fundamental interconnectedness as members of one human family, each endowed with an inviolable dignity and entrusted with a responsibility to care for the common good.
As we stand on the shoulders of those who have worked tirelessly for peace before us, let us remember that the United Nations, this noble “family of nations,” must continually renew itself, not merely institutionally but morally and spiritually. The true measure of our success will be found not only in treaties or resolutions, but in the genuine transformation of the human heart toward greater justice, compassion, and reverence for the dignity of every person.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Allow me to conclude with a personal word of gratitude to the Path to Peace Foundation, which “directs its activities primarily to the international stage of the United Nations. […] spreading […] the message of peace by which the Catholic Church, through the words and activities of the Pope […], strives to ‘guide our steps into the path of peace’”[9] (Lk. 1:79), recalling the Canticle of Zechariah.
The Foundation does this through its invaluable support for the life and work of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See, providing vital logistical and material assistance, sustaining the dedicated staff and supporting the internship programme. The Foundation’s unwavering generosity enables the Mission to function effectively, and allows the Pope’s voice to be heard in the family of nations.
This evening, I wish to remember in a special way the late Cardinal Renato Martino, whose visionary leadership helped shape the Path to Peace Foundation. Since the last Gala Dinner he has been called to the Lord, but his legacy of passionate advocacy for peace, human rights, and the dignity of all peoples continues to inspire us. Let us, therefore, redouble our efforts and walk steadfastly along the path to peace, united in purpose and hope, especially in this Jubilee Year, in which the Church has received the gift of a new Pope.
And, dear friends, let us plant the olive saplings we have received this evening and pray that their branches may bear the fruit of peace. Thank you, and may God bless you all abundantly.
[1] Pope St. Paul VI, Address to the United Nations Organization, 4 October 1965.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Cf. Pope St. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, on the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum, 1 May 1991.
[4] Pope St. John Paul II, Address at the 50th General Assembly of the United Nations Organization, 5 October 1995.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Pope Leo XIV, First Blessing “Urbi et Orbi”, 8 May 2025.
[7] Pope Leo XIV, Address to the College of Cardinals, 10 May 2025.
[8] Ibid.