22 July 2025
Mr. President,
The United Nations was founded on the principles of promoting peace and security, fostering international cooperation, protecting human rights, and advancing social and economic progress for all peoples. These principles remain as vital today as they were eight decades ago, guiding our efforts to address global challenges. The Holy See emphasizes that development must be anchored in these foundational ideals, ensuring that every action upholds the God-given dignity of the human person and fosters solidarity among nations.
“The 2030 Agenda was a clear sign that, in spite of differences in some areas, the international community has come together and affirmed its commitment to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions and to ensure that all children, women and men throughout the world have the conditions necessary to live in true freedom and dignity.”[1] Yet, a decade after its adoption, millions of people are still in extreme poverty, suffer from hunger and lack access to education and healthcare.
It is imperative that all endeavours prioritise integral human development, which encompasses the spiritual, social, and material well-being of every person. Indeed, development is not just a matter of economic growth; it is also a call to create conditions in which everyone can flourish, paying special attention to those most in need: children, the elderly, the poor, and those in vulnerable situations.
In this regard, Pope Leo XIV, addressing the Diplomatic Corps on 16 May 2025, insisted that “Every effort should be made to overcome the global inequalities – between opulence and destitution – that are carving deep divides between continents, countries and even within individual societies.”[2] These words challenge the stark disparities that undermine human dignity and threaten the stability of our global community.
Mr. President,
My Delegation upholds the necessity for a renewed multilateral cooperation system that is rooted in the UN’s founding principles for transformative change. Dialogue, respect and commitment must guide the shared commitment to achieve the common good. Furthermore, increased investment in families as the bedrock of society, together with accessible, quality education and healthcare are also essential for individuals and societies to flourish.
Mr. President,
Allow me to conclude with the words of Pope Leo XIV, who emphasized that it is now the moment “to leave conflicts behind and embark on a new path, confident that, by working together, each of us [...] can build a world in which everyone can lead an authentically human life in truth, justice, and peace.”[3]
Thank you.
[1] Note of the Holy See on the First Anniversary of the Adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, 5 October 2016.
[2] Pope Leo XIV, Audience to Members of the Diplomatic Cops Accredited to the Holy See, 16 May 2025.
[3] Ibid.
