Job Opening for Office Manager
Starting August 2024
Deadline: June 24, 2024
The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York is seeking, for a full-time staff position, a dedicated, fast-learning, energetic, friendly and multi-tasking Catholic professional to serve long-term in the position of Office Manager. The Office Manager will undertake various tasks, under the overall direction of the Permanent Observer of the Holy See.
Spes Non Cofundit
Papal Bull of Indiction for the Jubilee Year of 2025
Image Source: Vatican News
“Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5)
Jubilee Years, also known as Holy Years, are special years in the Catholic Church dedicated to prayer, pilgrimage, repentance, and acts of mercy and charity. They are significant periods of renewal for the Catholic Church, providing opportunities for deepened faith, community building, and increased acts of charity and justice. They remind the faithful of God's continual call to conversion and the ever-present offer of His mercy and grace.
“Since we are justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing in the glory of God… Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
Interview with Pope Francis with CBS News
Pope Francis on CBS News
"The globalization of indifference is a very ugly disease. Very ugly."
Pope Francis sat down for an interview with CBS Evening News' Norah O'Donnell in an hour-long special that aired on May 20th. In an engaging discussion, the Holy Father talked about nations in conflict, his vision for the Catholic Church, the meaning of legacy, his hopes for children, and more.
Holy See Statements at the UN
Statement By Archbishop Caccia In The General Debate Of The 57th Session Of The Commission On Population And Development
On 2 May 2024, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, issued a statement during the General Debate of the 57th Session of the Commission on Population and Development.
In his remarks, Archbishop Caccia acknowledged the progress made since the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo thirty years ago, although he noted that significant challenges remain. Foremost among these is the eradication of poverty in all its forms, which, he reiterated, is an “affront to the inherent dignity of the person.”
He highlighted that population growth is often erroneously cited as a major cause of increasing food insecurity despite evidence indicating otherwise. Instead, he asserted that the real challenges relate to inequality, poverty, and lack of development.
Archbishop Caccia recalled that the ICPD Plan of Action recognizes the family as the basic unit of society and that it should be strengthened. He quoted Pope Francis, who affirmed that “every human being has the right to live with dignity and to develop integrally.”
Statement by Archbishop Caccia At The UN Forum On Forests
On 6 May 2024, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, issued a statement at the UN Forum on Forests.
In his remarks, Archbishop Caccia reaffirmed the importance of a holistic approach to the stewardship of the environment. He quoted Pope Francis who called for an integral ecology that promotes respect for our “common home which God has entrusted to us.”
He noted that when it comes to Global Forest Goal 2, caring for the environment cannot be separated from our concern for human well-being. Referencing Global Forest Goal 3, he underlines the importance of expanding protected areas, while also affirming the need of balancing conservation goals with the needs of local communities.
Archbishop Caccia reiterated that integral ecology emphasizes the importance of addressing the root causes of environmental degradation. He stated the paramount importance to adopt an “integral ecology approach” that highlights the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic factors.
Statement by Archbishop Caccia at the 14th Session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing
On 20 May 2024, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, issued a statement during the 14th session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing.
In his remarks, Archbishop Caccia discussed the ways in which cities and rural towns are built that can facilitate or impede the ability of older persons to participate in community life. He highlighted the importance of affordable and accessible housing for older persons. He stressed that older persons should not be isolated but encouraged to maintain proximity with younger generations, as with intergenerational housing.
Archbishop Caccia noted that participation in public life and decision-making processes cannot be limited to the political and civil rights of the individual and should extend to the formation of shared living bonds of belonging. He expressed deep concern that older persons “perceive themselves to have a lesser stake in the future.” He emphasized that when society offers suicide instead of compassionate accompaniment, the equal dignity of all persons at every stage of human life until natural death is ignored.
Statement By Archbishop Caccia At The Security Council Open Debate On Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict: 25th Anniversary Of S/RES/1265 (1999)
On 22 May 2024, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, issued a statement during the Security Council Open Debate on Protection of civilians in armed conflict: 25th Anniversary of S/RES/1265 (1999).
In his remarks, Archbishop Caccia asserted that the increase in conflict worldwide in recent years is alarming, emphasizing that civilians bear the brunt of the impact. Quoting Pope Francis, he called it imperative that “the civilian victims are not [seen as] ‘collateral damage,’ but [as] men and woman, with names and surnames.”
Archbishop Caccia urged the implementation of Resolution 1265 to protect those who face greater risks during conflict, emphasizing three key points. The first is to recognize that modern war no longer solely takes place on the battlefield and urges the protection of places of worship in conflict zones. The second is that the cessation of production, stockpiling, and use of indiscriminate weapons is a crucial measure to protect civilians in armed conflicts. The third is to express great concern of the blockade of humanitarian aid in conflict zones and increased attacks on humanitarian personnel.
Statement by Msgr. Robert Murphy at the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States
From the 27-30 May, Antigua and Barbuda hosted the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4). Monsignor Robert Murphy, Deputy Permanent Observer of the Holy See, and Ms. Ciara Hogan, the Holy See Mission's attaché and expert on developmental affairs, formed the Holy See Delegation to attend the conference.
On 28 May 2024, Msgr. Robert Murphy, Head of the Holy See Delegation attending SIDS4, delivered a statement in the General Debate.
In his remarks, Msgr. Murphy acknowledged the escalating threats, including from climate change, resulting in rising sea levels, extreme weather events, coastal erosion, and biodiversity loss, which pose existential risks to SIDS. He welcomed the establishment of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) to better capture and address these challenges.
Additionally, Msgr. Murphy underscored the critical need for debt relief and cancellation to provide SIDS the fiscal space to invest in transformative programs for sustainable development. Debt cancellation is seen not only as an economic necessity, but a moral imperative rooted in justice and solidarity. He recalled Pope Francis’s appeal “to acknowledge the gravity of so many […] past decisions and determine to forgive the debts of countries that will never be able to repay them.”
Vatican News Interview with Archbishop Caccia
Archbishop Caccia also sat down with Vatican News discussing the rise of worldwide unrest and conflict. He criticized the escalating arms race, advocating for funds to be redirected to socio-economic development and conflict prevention. Caccia also highlighted the existential threat of nuclear weapons and stressed the need to restore trust in multilateral diplomacy to promote global peace.
31st Annual Path To Peace Foundation Gala Dinner
On 23 May, the Path to Peace Gala Dinner, in support of the work of the Holy See Mission, honoured Frá John Dunlap, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See Mission to the UN and President of the Path to Peace Foundation, welcomed over 500 guests to the Gala. Afterwards, the honoree, Frá John Dunlap gave his remarks. Mr. Kenneth Craig, President of the American Association of the Sovereign Order of Malta, served as the Master of Ceremonies. His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, gave the opening invocation.
After the dinner, Ms. Nadja Wolfe, a Negotiator for the Holy See Mission, drew upon her experience as a staff member provided a testimony of her work in negotiations at the UN. His Excellency Archbishop Bishop William Murphy, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Rockville Centre gave the closing Benediction.
Frá John Dunlap and Archbishop Gabriele Caccia delivered remarks. (above)
- Link to Remarks by Frá John Dunlap available here.
- Link to Remarks by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia available here.
The funds raised through the Path to Peace Gala enable the Path to Peace Foundation to help the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See maintain a dynamic presence at the UN and to bring greater awareness of the teachings of the Holy Father on important international questions. The Foundation also focuses on disseminating information and documentation on statements and initiatives of the Holy Father, the Holy See, and Catholic organizations directed toward building a world of justice, charity, and peace. The Holy See Mission would like to sincerely thank all the guests for the successful Gala dinner!
Click to Visit the Path to Peace Website
Life of the Mission
Farewell to Christina and Jeremy
This month, the Holy See Mission said farewell to our Office Manager, Ms. Christina Gaudino, and our Peace and Security Attaché, Mr. Jeremy Faust.
Mr. Jeremy Faust initially began at the Mission as an intern from January through May 2020. He started as a negotiator for the Peace and Security team in January 2022. Jeremy will begin law school at New York University this fall. Jeremy said in his reflections, "serving the Mission of the Holy See in the field of multilateral diplomacy for the past two and a half years has been a great honor, which has allowed me to grow both in faith and professionally. While any goodbye is bittersweet, I have full confidence that my successor, Ms. Benedetta Viviano, has the competency and passion to continue promoting the Holy Father’s message of peace and disarmament in security fora at the United Nations."
Ms. Christina Gaudino began at the Mission as the Office Manager in February 2022. This past month, she started as a researcher for the Department of Political Science at Rutgers University in New Jersey. In her reflections, she said, "It’s bittersweet for me to leave the Mission; I will miss the wonderful priests, lay staff members, and interns. I have loved my time here and have been deeply formed by it. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve the Church in a small way and will treasure it always."
While we are sad to see you go, we wish you two all the best in the next chapters of your lives!
Farewell, Spring Interns!
The Spring Intern cohort concludes their work at the Mission on May 31. The interns finished their cycle with the attendance of the Path to Peace Gala.
Happy Birthday
This month, Bernardo Cellini, Nadja Wolfe, and Max Yun celebrated their birthdays (below). Nadja, well-known at the Mission for her baking skills, baked and decorated her own cake!
Ad multos annos!
Delegation Visits to the Mission
The European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights
On 30 April, 2024, the Holy See Mission welcomed parliamentarians who were part of their national delegations to the Commission on Population and Development. The meeting included parliamentarians from the United Kingdom, Canada, Ukraine, France, Denmark, and Norway.
Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell
On 7 May, 2024, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, visited the Mission for a conversation about the current state of the Church and opportunities for ecumenical collaboration for peace.
Spring 2025 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 Spring 2025 session, which will run from January through May 2025.