New York, 28 July 2026

Madam President,

The Delegation of the Holy See welcomes this High-Level Meeting, which marks the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the New Urban Agenda. This milestone provides an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to the development of urban areas that serve the human person.

First and foremost, urban sustainable development is about people. Every city is ultimately a community of persons, each of whom is endowed with an inherent God-given dignity that must be respected, safeguarded and promoted. Therefore, urban development cannot be measured solely by the height of its buildings or the strength of its economy, but above all by its ability to enable every person to flourish by participating fully in society and contributing to the common good.

Therefore, the true measure of a sustainable city lies in how it treats all its members, and, consequently, in its capacity to address multiple forms of poverty, persistent inequalities and environmental degradation.

As Pope Leo XIV reminded us, “a just society requires a vigilant State and civil institutions that are capable of overcoming the singular mentality of efficiency, and of ensuring that resources, creative solutions and regulations favour the most vulnerable.”[1] If cities and urban spaces fail to support those living in poverty and the homeless, they will fall short of the vision set out in the New Urban Agenda.

Madam President,

Among the many challenges facing urban development, homelessness undoubtedly stands out as a grave affront to human dignity. Not having a home means more than just lacking shelter; it means being deprived of security, stability, privacy, and a sense of belonging. Homelessness undermines the ability to exercise many fundamental human rights and often traps individuals and families in cycles of exclusion and poverty.

The persistence of homelessness should trouble the conscience of the international community. Everybody deserves a place to call home, where they can build relationships, nurture family life, and participate fully in their community. Housing should therefore be viewed not just as a commodity or financial asset, but as a cornerstone of society at the service of the common good.

In this regard, the Delegation of the Holy See encourages greater investment in affordable and adequate housing, as well as integrated social services. Urban planning should also address the root causes of homelessness, such as poverty, unemployment, drug addiction, mental health issues, family breakdown, displacement and conflict. These efforts must be developed through the meaningful participation of local communities, civil society, faith-based organizations and those individuals with lived experience of homelessness, whose involvement could be essential for shaping effective and lasting policies.

From this perspective, it is also important to promote the development of housing policies that encourage an integrated approach to local housing by addressing the strong links between education, employment, housing and health. This will also help to prevent exclusion and segregation.

In achieving the vision of the New Urban Agenda, renewed international solidarity is also required. Many developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, continue to face significant financing gaps and limited capacity to manage rapid urbanisation. It is vital to continue supporting these countries through enhanced international cooperation, technology transfer, capacity building and adequate financing if we are to build cities that are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable for all.

Madam President,

Pope Leo XIV emphasizes that “development is truly human when it places people at the center.”[2] This principle should guide the implementation of the New Urban Agenda in the decade ahead. When cities are shaped by solidarity, inclusion and care for those most in need, they become more than mere places of residence and of work; they become places of encounter, fraternity and hope.

Thank you.

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[1] Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas, 158. 
[2] Ibid., 83.