Archbishop Caccia Speaks on
New Papal Encylical Fratelli Tutti
NEW YORK — On October 26, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York, gave a virtual presentation to the bishops, priests and deacons of the Archdiocese of New York on Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis' recent encyclical on universal fraternity and social friendship.
Archbishop Caccia was asked to give the presentation by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, who hosted the session and introduced Archbishop Caccia. Clergy from the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre also participated.
After remarks about the purpose, audience and structure of the encyclical, signed by Pope Francis on October 3 in Assisi and published the following day, Archbishop Caccia concentrated on Pope Francis' use of Jesus' Parable of the Good Samaritan as the means to create a society of friendship and fraternity by becoming "neighbor" to those in need.
He then applied Pope Francis' insights about the parable to various situations that Pope Francis tackles in the Encyclical, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, wars and conflicts, attacks on human life, the situation of refugees, and migrants, populist movements, effective dialogue, forgiveness, just war theory, the death penalty, and the work of religious leaders.
Pope Francis similarly focuses in the encyclical on the reform of the United Nations, so that the "concept of the family of nations can acquire 'real teeth.' … This calls for clear legal limits to avoid power being co-opted only by a few countries and to prevent cultural impositions or a restriction of the basic freedoms of weaker nations on the basis of ideological differences."
The Pope added that the UN's work "can be seen as the development and promotion of the rule of law, based on the realization that justice is an essential condition for achieving the ideal of universal fraternity."
He expressed concern that unless the UN's problems and shortcomings are "addressed and resolved" that there is a risk that it may be "delegitimized."
At the end of the half-hour presentation, Archbishop Caccia took questions from the priests for 20 minutes before Cardinal Dolan concluded the session.
To read Archbishop Caccia's remarks, view his powerpoint slides or watch the video of his introductory presentation, please click here.
To read Pope Francis' Fratelli Tutti, please click here.
Upcoming Virtual Event in Preparation
for the World Day of the Poor
NEW YORK — On November 12, Archbishop Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, will participate in a virtual event in anticipation of the fourth annual World Day of the Poor, which will be marked on Sunday, November 15.
The event is being sponsored by the Permanent Observer Mission of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the United Nations and America Media. Co-sponsors include the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, the Mission of the Republic of Lithuania to the United Nations, Catholic Charities USA, Fordham University’s Graduate Program in International Political Economy & Development, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Ireland to the United Nations, and the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontífice USA (CAPP-USA).
Besides Archbishop Caccia, speakers will include H.E. Paul Beresford-Hill, Ambassador of the Order of Malta to the UN; H.E. Audra Plepytė, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the UN; and H.E. Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to the UN; and H.E. Dominique Prince de La Rochefoucauld–Montbel, Grand Hospitaller of the Sovereign Order of Malta.
There will be also be a panel moderated by Fr. Matthew F. Malone, S.J., president & editor in chief of America Media, involving a conversation about Pope Francis' letter for the 2020 World Day of the Poor. The panelists will be Nicholas D. Kristof of the The New York Times; Sister Donna Markham, OP, PhD, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA; and H.E. Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for Policy Coordination and Interagency Affairs.
To register for the virtual event, which will take place at 12 noon on Nov. 12 and then be able to be watched on demand afterward, please click here.
To read Pope Francis' message for the Fourth World Day of the Poor, please click here.
Archbishop Caccia at the America Media studios recording his remarks for the November 12 virtual event on Pope Francis' message in anticipation of the fourth World Day of the Poor.
Holy See Mission
Accepting Applications for Negotiator/Expert for
Social, Development and Human Rights Issues
NEW YORK — Through November 13, the Holy See Mission is accepting applications for a negotiator/expert position on the staff of the Mission.
The negotiator will work with the Permanent Observer and the diplomatic staff of the Holy See, attend meetings at the U.N. related to his or her portfolio of issues, write reports on those meetings, participate in negotiations on relevant resolutions and outcome documents, drafts and edit statements, and participate in the overall mission of the Holy See to the U.N.
Under the supervision of the Permanent Observer, the person will report to the diplomat in charge of covering the Second, Third and Sixth Committees of the General Assembly as well as the Economic and Social Council.
For more information on the position and to learn how to apply, please click here.
Press Roundup:
Holy See Mission in the News
NEW YORK — In the past month, there have been several stories about the work of the Holy See Mission in Catholic and secular media. Here is a news roundup.
October 1, Archbishop Caccia’s Statement at UN Ministerial-Level Meeting on Central African Republic
October 7, Vatican tells UN it is ‘deeply concerned’ by push to ‘reinterpret' foundations of human rights
October 7, Archbishop Caccia Addresses Key Issues at United Nations
October 9, Holy See at UN advocates debt relief for poor countries
October 9, Vatican to UN: cancel debts to help poor nations overcome pandemic
October 9, Nuncio to United Nations, says economic inequities made worse by COVID-19
October 10, Vatican nuncio to UN speaks of terrible toll of Covid
October 14, Vatican diplomat: To eradicate poverty, put the poor at the center of development policies
October 14, Holy See Addresses UN on Eradication of Poverty, Other Development Issues
October 15, Around world, men, women, children ‘bear burden’ of climate change, says nuncio
October 15, Vatican at UN: Statement on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism
October 16, Vatican to UN: pandemic makes 2030 poverty elimination goal even harder to achieve
October 16, Archbishop Caccia Addresses UN on Sustainable Development
October 18, Vatican at UN: Agricultural development, food security and nutrition
October 19, Don’t incentizive the throwaway culture, Vatican diplomat says
October 19, Holy See Addresses UN on Sustainable Development
October 19, Vatican asks UN to eliminate the risks of satellite collisions in outer space
October 20, Holy See Addresses United Nations on Need for Disarmament
October 21, Terrorists ‘utter disdain for life’ condemned
October 21, Vatican to UN: It is immoral to threaten use of nuclear weapons as deterrence
October 21, ‘A Faith-Based Vision for the UN At 75 and Beyond’
October 23, Vatican ambassador looks back on history of Holy See — UN relations
October 23, Holy See Talks Rule of Law at United Nations
October 24, ‘Catholics are like the leaven in the loaf’ of U.N.’s work, says Glendon
October 27, Vatican diplomat: Catholics can help UN to live up to its principles
October 28, In overview of Fratelli tutti, leading Vatican diplomat notes 10 ‘questions raised’
Congratulations to Juan Francisco Padin
