Published: 2 April 2025
April 2, 2025
20th Anniversary
of the Death of Pope St. John Paul II
Photo: Vatican News
Twenty years after the death of Pope John Paul II on 5 April 2005, the Vatican News Editorial Director, Andrea Tornielli, explores how the Church celebrates the saint and recalls his unheeded words against war.
"Humanity stands at a crossroads. It now possesses tools of unprecedented power: it can turn this world into a garden or reduce it to a heap of rubble."
- St. John Paul II
Save the Date:
Path to Peace Gala on 19 May 2025
Honoring His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Holy See Statements
at the United Nations
Professor Gabriella Gambino, Under-Secretary of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life
Delivers Statement at the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
On 13 March 2025, during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Professor Gabriella Gambino, Under-Secretary of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life and Head of the Holy See Delegation, issued a statement on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Fourth World Conference on Women and its outcome, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Emphasizing the equal dignity of every woman and man based on her or his very being, Prof. Gambino noted that this is fully recognizable even by reason alone, and underpins the primacy of the human person and the protection of human rights.
Since poverty disproportionately affects women, Prof. Gambino underscored the importance of poverty eradication, and identified education as essential to this end, and to achieving equality, development and peace.
Reaffirming the critical role that women play in the family, the basic unity of society, Professor Gambino stressed the importance of political action to bring about a cultural shift regarding family and motherhood. She concluded by highlighting the need to protect the most basic human right, the right to life.
Holy See Mission hosts three Side-Events during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
On the sidelines of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the Holy See Mission held three side events:
Bias Before Birth: Sex-Selective Practices and Their Consequences
On 13 March 2025, the Holy See sponsored a side event with ADF International entitled "Bias Before Birth: Sex-Selective Practices and Their Consequences" (pictured below). Archbishop Gabriele Caccia delivered opening remarks for the event, which can be read here.
A Singularly Important Role: Motherhood in Today's World
On 18 March 2025, the Holy See sponsored a side event entitled "A Singularly Important Role: Motherhood in Today's World" (pictured below). Archbishop Gabriele Caccia delivered opening remarks for the event, which can be read here.
The Scourge of Pornography in the Digital Age
On 19 March 2025, the Holy See sponsored a side event with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops entitled "The Scourge of Pornography in the Digital Age" (pictured below). Archbishop Gabriele Caccia delivered opening remarks for the event, which can be read here.
Archbishop Caccia Delivers Statement at the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
On 4 March 2025, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, issued a statement during the General Exchange of Views of the Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
On the 80th anniversary of the first nuclear test, and the subsequent bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Archbishop Caccia emphasized the moral and humanitarian imperative to eliminate nuclear weapons.
Expressing concern at the resurgence of nuclear threats and rising global military expenditure, the Archbishop urged the international community to prioritize a model of peace and security defined by fraternity, rather than deterrence-based rhetoric.
Reaffirming the importance of the TPNW and its legally binding provisions, Archbishop Caccia also welcomed the scientific research undertaken on the humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons.
Life at the Mission
Celebrating March Birthdays at the Mission
Wishing the happiest of birthdays to Ms. Viviano and Sr. Clara Silvia!
Ad multos annos!
The Holy See Mission Goes Skating
This month, the Holy See Mission in New York went skating at Wollman Rink at Central Park. It was the last weekend the rink was open for the season with beautiful sunny weather!
Fall 2025 Internship
Applications are Open
Since 2015, the Holy See Mission has had 212 interns from 40 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 Fall 2025 session, which will run from September through December 2025.