YouSaid · the spoken record

Archbishop Dominque Mamberti

lines on the record: 44
first: 2011-09-24
most recent: 2013-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

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“My delegation also strongly appeals to all Member States to exercise responsibility. Peace will come about, and the objectives of comprehensive human development for each inhabitant of the Earth, especially for the weakest and those who have no voice or representation, will be achieved if, and only if, every State is capable of fully assuming its own responsibilities for the common good of all.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The Holy See believes, in line with the theological and ethical teaching of the Catholic Church, that because of the evils and injustices that any war entails, we must do everything possible to avoid it. This is also why the Church strongly urges everyone to pray and act so that divine goodness frees us from the ancient bondage of war. My delegation, recalling those ethical principles that inspire and animate the international activity of the Holy See, has no ambition other than to make a contribution of a moral nature to this session of the General Assembly, while at the same time expressing its recognition for the work done by various bodies and United Nations agencies to relieve the suffering caused by the Syrian crisis and other conflict situations. We encourage them to continue their humanitarian work.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Accompanying the Holy Father and under his leadership, the competent authorities of the Holy See also took diplomatic action aimed at stopping the violence and promoting dialogue between the parties involved in the conflict, thereby putting into practice one of the main goals of their international presence. Along with the Pope and in line with the theme for this session, we would like to reiterate here at the general debate that war is the specific refusal to commit to the achievement of the major social and economic goals that the international community has set for itself. Indeed, there can be no economic development without peace. Armed conflict never leads to peace, which is crucial for that development.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It would greatly facilitate the inclusion of the principle of the responsibility to protect in the Charter of the United Nations. And, more generally from the point of view of economic and social development, it would be the most clear demonstration of the will to undertake, with honesty and effectiveness, a path of sustainable development post-2015. Pope Francis, through his prophetic words and actions on 7 September, launched a huge global movement of prayer for peace, the results of which were immediately clear in the public’s spontaneous and sincere support for that goal. The scope of that effort went beyond differences of religion, culture, nationality or geographical origin, and exerted a strong influence on world leaders.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In that context, the Syrian tragedy is both a challenge and an opportunity for the United Nations to breathe new life into all its bodies, mechanisms and procedures in a specific, creative and positive manner. In that regard, we must welcome the unanimous adoption by the Security Council of resolution 2118 (2013), on 27 September. My delegation hopes that the agreement that was reached on that document will provide a definite impetus to the Geneva process, so as to make it finally possible to restore stability and bring about reconciliation in the country. A peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in Syria would set a significant precedent for the upcoming century and would indicate the path to be taken in addressing other conflicts that the international community has not yet been able to resolve.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It is a profound and urgent spirit of solidarity that calls upon everyone, starting with heads of State, to understand their responsibilities with regard to serious humanitarian crises wherever they occur and to commit to ensuring that all emergency measures are put in place — diplomatic and economic measures and those related to public opinion, as well as the mechanisms stipulated by the Charter of the United Nations — to arrive at an effective solution. To provide continuity to the ongoing debate on the responsibility to protect, it would be a good idea to consider ways to explicitly include that concept in the mandate of the Security Council, under Article 24 of the Charter, and possibly under Article 39.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The Secretary- General recently spoke of the collective failure of the international community’s ability to prevent and avoid the atrocities committed in Syria. Along those lines, I would like to recall the concept of the responsibility to protect, which the Secretary-General also referred to, and I would also like to underscore the importance of that responsibility for the Holy See. The adoption of a political and legal concept of the responsibility to protect during the 2005 World Summit, held from 14 to 16 September 2005, was a great step forward by the international community. Unfortunately, the responsibility to protect has sometimes been erroneously understood to be a justification for the use of arms, but in reality it means something quite different.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“On the contrary, there should be a new commitment to seek, with courage and determination, a peaceful solution through dialogue and negotiation between the interested parties with the firm support of the international community. Moreover, all the Governments of the world have the moral duty to give priority to any initiative that would promote the provision of humanitarian assistance to those who are suffering on account of the conflict within and outside the country. We would also note that, during the Syrian crisis, the bodies and agencies of the United Nations system have sought to deploy all available means to protect civilians. Member States have, for far too long, shown a lack of the courage needed to give priority to the international resolution of the conflict.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In his recent letter to the Group of 20 leaders meeting in Saint Petersburg, the Holy Father, recalling the responsibility of the international community with regard to Syria, described as regrettable the fact that too many partisan interests had prevailed since the Syrian conflict began and had prevented the finding of a solution to the pointless massacre we are witnessing. In recalling his words, I would like to urge the leaders of States not to remain indifferent in the face of the tragedies that have been afflicting the Syrian people for far too long. To each and every one of the leaders, in repeating the Pope’s words, I would like to make a heartfelt appeal that they find ways to overcome their differences and give up any useless attempt at a military solution.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The most recent report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, established by the Human Rights Council, demonstrates that massacres and other serious violations of human rights have been committed by the parties to the conflict. The same experts vehemently affirmed that there was no possible military solution. In that context, the Holy See would like to reaffirm that any action that might aggravate or even extend the conflict and increase the unspeakable suffering of innocent people should be avoided.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It risks becoming an international conflict at any moment. In addition to the terrible loss of life, the conflict is destroying some of the richest heritage of history, culture and human coexistence, strongly linked to the three monotheistic religions and the whole European culture heritage. In recalling the long history during which, together, the different parts of society built that heritage and sewed the fabric of human relationships, I would like to note the deep concern of the Holy See for the fate of the Christian communities and other minorities, who should not be forced in any way into exile, but rather should be given a leading role in the future configuration of their country, given their contribution to the common good.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The first requires that we do everything reasonably possible to avoid war, given the evils and injustice that war leads to; and the second affirms the permanent validity of moral law during armed conflict. In that regard, acts deliberately contrary to individual’s rights and those universal principles are crimes, which in the most serious cases can be described as crimes against humanity. It is clear that, in the lives of people, armed conflicts have led to deep divisions and serious harm that require many years to heal. Today the example of greatest concern to the entire world is the serious conflict that has developed in Syria, which has already led to 110,000 dead, 4 million internally displaced persons and more than 2 million refugees in neighbouring countries, including in Lebanon and Jordan.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In that regard, a tradition of great merit has been established, which dates back to the origins of the Organization itself. However, history has also shown that, when the necessary means are insufficient or the prevailing national and international interests weigh too heavily, United Nations intervention cannot be realized or, if it is undertaken, has only limited success. Despite those difficulties, the whole experience of peacekeeping and peacebuilding developed by the United Nations should be seen as positive, including those operations that have had weak immediate results, because it is itself a concrete expression of the two key principles of natural law, namely, the rights intrinsically linked to human dignity.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The African continent has many real or potential situations of conflict, with dozens of armed groups that sow death and suffering throughout the population. In that regard, I would particularly like to refer to the situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the Central African Republic. The Middle East continues to be a subject of great concern, and in some countries of the American continent drug trafficking has reached the level where traffickers can wage war against States. There are also significant hotbeds of tension in many regions of Asia. In many of those conflicts, there have been or are still United Nations peacekeeping operations working in coordination with regional organizations.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Based on the Charter of the United Nations, States sought to reaffirm that international law was a legal system whose fundamental objective, even if it is not the only one, was to control the use of violence between States, and in which the limitation of the use of force to cases and under the conditions stipulated in the Charter itself represents a fundamental constitutional norm. Therefore, the limitation of the use of force is the primary and essential principle in terms of the ultimate goal of any legal system aimed at the protection of individuals and their fundamental rights. It is tragic that today, in spite of the valuable United Nations legal principles, the implementation mechanisms and procedures have not managed to prevent serious civil and regional conflicts or protect people.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The right to wage war, which authorized the political and autonomous use of military force, was replaced by providing the Security Council with the power to authorize the use of force which, under the Charter of the United Nations, includes only one exception, namely, legitimate self- defence, the conditions and limitations of which are described in Article 51 of the Charter. In that context, it is possible to consider that following the tragedies of the First World War and the Second World War, States created an international set of norms that provide legal instruments that establish the law based on the highest sense of justice. Indeed, international law is no longer synonymous with the laws of the international community, that is, laws based on the traditions and customs of various States.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Therefore, the matter of the post-2015 development agenda should today be viewed in the context of the serious conflicts under way — first and foremost the conflict in Syria. In facing such wars and massacres, it is crucial that the international community choose the path of development, with greater determination and courage. If peace is considered the sine qua non of comprehensive human development, it is important to return to certain basic principles that the international community solemnly swore to follow nearly 70 years ago. The United Nations was created, at that time, “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” and “to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest”.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The future development goals of the post-2015 agenda should therefore identify monitoring and adjustment mechanisms to deal with economic trends and promote the elimination of hunger worldwide, the gradual disappearance of slums, universal access to drinking water and improved sanitation for all, among other things. That framework would be incomplete without considering an external development factor that is essential to the implementation of the MDGs, namely, peace. While it is true that injustice and excessive social and economic inequalities among peoples and nations represent a constant threat to peace and lead to war, it is also true that war, terrorism, organized crime and other forms of armed violence at the national and international levels represent the most significant obstacles to development.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“While that was justified from a practical point of view, such an approach does not legitimize its decisions, which could have important consequences for other States Members of the United Nations that are neither direct nor indirect participants in the G-20. In order to guarantee the future implementation of common goals for the post-2015 agenda, international legal mechanisms must urgently be devised to ensure the participation of all States in drafting and implementing sweeping shared economic decisions. At the same time, it will be insufficient to create financial or business structures that are recognized as fair and equitable by all States if we do not assess the results of the goals in the long term, with the aim of guaranteeing that the lives of those in need are clearly improving.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“That is due, in part, to limitations and lack of clarity, including along ethical lines, and especially due to the difficulty in creating an efficient consensus on the implementation of Goal 8, in view of the resources necessary to achieve the seven others. In terms of that Goal, the decisions made following the 2008 crisis aimed to find an equitable way to manage the international financial sector and reform the international financial institutions. Nevertheless, it is regrettable to note that discussions on measures to control the global economy took place among small, limited groups of States, such as the Group of 20 (G-20); they did not include the poorest or least populated States.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In the context of comprehensive human development, the foregoing should be guided by promoting the family, based on the union of a man and a woman and the protection of the rights of the family as the basic social nucleus and the foundation of all stable and sustainable development. Those goals should also promote a dignified life for all humankind, from the oldest to the youngest child still at home, as well as those living in the most difficult social situations or most isolated areas. As the deadline set to achieve the Millennium Development Goals approaches, it is easy to see that they have not been universally achieved.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The process of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including the progress made and the limitations and difficulties encountered, has demonstrated the importance of establishing common goals for all members of the international community that will bring them together, galvanize them and assess their efforts — including the United Nations and its specialized entities, regional organizations and States. In that regard, it is important that at this session the Assembly revisit the fundamental concepts that make up the heart of the United Nations, as they remain relevant to setting new goals for the post-2015 agenda.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It acts to reaffirm faith, which is perceived with fear in certain segments of contemporary society and wrongly accused of leading to intolerance — when in fact it promotes understanding and unity among peoples and peace. It is my hope that this session of the General Assembly will be inspired by the same spirit of universal solidarity that was demonstrated during the international day for prayer convened by the Pope on 7 September, which brought together religious leaders of all faiths. May the session follow that path and inspire a new dynamism such that all nations will take action to resolve the ongoing conflicts and heal the wounds of humankind. The choice of the theme for this session — “The post-2015 development agenda: setting the stage” — is a timely one.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“At the outset, on behalf of the Holy See, I have the honour to congratulate Ambassador John Ashe on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session. I am also pleased to convey to the President and to other participating delegations the warmest greetings from His Holiness Pope Francis, who assures the Assembly of his kind thoughts and prayers that the session will be crowned with success. In the first days of his pontificate, Pope Francis inspired enthusiasm and hope for a new horizon based on a culture of togetherness that should form the basis of all personal, societal and international relations. That culture specifically recognizes the value of others: the individual, social groups and States. It is founded on human dignity and transcendence.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Lasting peace can be achieved only through good-faith negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, avoiding actions or conditions that contradict declarations of goodwill. The Holy See therefore urges the parties to return to negotiations with resolve. It urgently appeals to the international community to increase its commitment and stimulate its creativity and initiatives in order to reach a lasting peace, in respect for the rights of the Israelis and the Palestinians.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That fundamental document sets down the legal framework for the existence of two States. One of them has already been born, while the other has not yet been established, although nearly 65 years have passed. The Holy See is convinced that if one desires peace, brave decisions must be taken. It hopes that the competent bodies of the United Nations are resolved to help effectively implement the final objective, that is, achieving the Palestinians’ right to have their own independent and sovereign State and the Israelis’ right to security, both States with internationally recognized borders. The response of the United Nations, whatever it may be, will not be a complete solution.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I would like to take this opportunity to renew the appeal made by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, who called on all citizens, particularly young people, to do their utmost to promote the common good and build societies in which poverty is overcome, in which every political choice is inspired by respect for human beings and in which peace and harmony will triumph over divisions, hatred and violence. A final observation concerns Palestine’s request for recognition as a Member State of the United Nations, made here on 23 September by the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas. The Holy See views this initiative as an attempt to find a definitive solution, with the support of the international community, to the question already addressed by the General Assembly in its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Indeed, the primary objective of the treaty should be not only to regulate the trade in conventional arms and obstruct the black market, but also and most importantly to protect human life and build a world more respectful of human dignity. Indeed, the United Nations’ contribution to building a world more respectful of human dignity will demonstrate its ability to effectively carry out its mission, which is to help the family of nations to pursue the common objectives of peace, security and integral development for all. The Holy See is also concerned about the events unfolding in some countries of North Africa and the Middle East.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“An unregulated and non-transparent arms trade has significant negative repercussions. It hampers integral human development and heightens the risk of 43 11-51670 conflicts, especially internal conflicts, and instability. It fosters a culture of violence and impunity, which is often linked to such criminal activities as drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings and piracy. These are becoming ever more serious international problems. The results of the current arms trade treaty process will test the true willingness of States to assume their moral and legal responsibilities in that regard. The international community, conscious of the great numbers of people affected by the illegal trade in arms and ammunition and aware of their suffering, must focus on concluding an arms trade treaty that is effective and enforceable.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The idea of “family” immediately evokes something more than merely functional relationships or a simple convergence of interests. A family is by nature a community based on interdependence, mutual trust, mutual aid and sincere respect. Its full development is based not on the supremacy of the strongest, but on the attention paid to the weakest and most marginalized, and its responsibility extends to future generations. Respect for the environment should make us more attuned to the needs of the most disenfranchised. It should create a development strategy centred on the individual that promotes solidarity and the shared responsibility of all, including future generations. This strategy can only benefit from the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty, planned for 2012.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“This review of international economic rules must form part of wider efforts to forge a new global development model. Indeed, the state of our planet’s environmental health, and above all the cultural and moral crisis of humankind — the symptoms of which have been evident around the world for some time — demand this. These considerations should also inspire the work of the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, to be held in June, on the conviction that “Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development”, as stated in the Principle 1 of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. The sense of environmental responsibility and preservation should be guided by our awareness of being a family of nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Economic and commercial activities oriented towards development should be able to effectively reduce poverty and alleviate the suffering of the most disenfranchised. In that regard, the Holy See encourages strengthening official development assistance in accordance with the Group of Eight commitments made at Gleneagles. My delegation hopes that the debates on this theme at the forthcoming High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development will bring the expected results. Furthermore, the Holy See has repeatedly stressed the importance of new and more in-depth thinking on the meaning of the economy and its objectives, as well as a forward-looking review of the global trade and financial architecture to correct its dysfunctions and distortions.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The economy does not function only through market self- regulation, and even less through agreements that are limited to accommodating the interests of the most powerful. The economy needs an ethical raison d’être in order to work for humankind. The notion of producing resources and goods — that is, the economy — and of managing them strategically — that is, politics — without seeking to do good through those same acts — that is, without ethics — has proven to be a naïve or cynical illusion, and always fatal. Moreover, every economic decision has a moral consequence. The economy therefore needs ethics to function properly — not just any ethic, but a people-centred ethic that can offer prospects to new generations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“From that standpoint, it is important that believers, today as yesterday, feel free to offer their contribution to the promotion of a more just human order, not only through their responsible involvement in civic, economic and political life, but also through the witness of their charity and faith. A third challenge that the Holy See would like to bring to the attention of the Assembly is the continuing global economic and financial crisis. We all know that a fundamental element of the current crisis is the deficit in ethics in the economic structures. Ethics are not an external element of the economy; the economy has no future if it has no moral element. In other words, the ethical dimension is essential in addressing economic problems.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Various means are sought to marginalize religion and prevent it from having any influence on social life. But how can anyone deny the contribution of the world’s great religions to the development of civilization? As Pope Benedict XVI stressed, the sincere search for God has led to greater respect for human dignity. For example, Christian communities, with their heritage of values and principles, have contributed much to making individuals and peoples aware of their own identity and their dignity, as well as to the establishment of rule-of-law institutions and the recognition of human rights and their corresponding responsibilities.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In that way, believers of all faiths everywhere will be able to live in security and continue to make a contribution to their society. In thinking about the situation in some countries, I would like to repeat in particular that Christians are citizens like any other citizens, connected to their homeland and faithful to all of their national duties. It is natural that they should enjoy all the rights of citizenship, freedom of conscience and worship, freedom in teaching and education and freedom in the use of communications media. Moreover, in some countries, although much importance is placed on pluralism and tolerance, paradoxically there is a tendency to consider religion as something foreign to modern society or even as a 11-51670 42 destabilizing force.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The lack of respect for freedom of religion threatens security and peace and hinders authentic integral human development. The particular weight of a given religion in a nation should never mean that citizens of other faiths are discriminated against in social life or, worse still, that violence against them is tolerated. In that connection, it is important that a common commitment to recognize and promote the religious freedom of every person and every community be promoted by engaging in sincere interreligious dialogue, encouraged and supported by Governments and international bodies. I reiterate the concerned appeal made by the Holy See to authorities and religious leaders to adopt effective measures for the protection of religious minorities, wherever they are threatened.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Moreover, the long and generally successful history of peacekeeping operations and the more recent initiatives in peacebuilding can offer valuable lessons for conceiving models for implementing the responsibility to protect in full respect for international law and for the legitimate interests of all the parties involved. Respect for freedom of religion is a fundamental factor in peacebuilding, the recognition of human dignity and the safeguarding of the human rights. This is the second challenge I would like to reflect on. The situations in which the right to freedom of religion is violated or is denied to believers of different religions are unfortunately many. We have witnessed rising intolerance for religious reasons. Christians are the religious group that currently suffers the greatest persecution because of their faith.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It must create forums for genuine, sincere negotiations, support the moral force of law, seek the common good and encourage Governments, civil society and public opinion to find the causes of and offer solutions to crises of all kinds. I must act in close collaboration and solidarity with the affected populations and place above all else the integrity and security of all citizens. It is therefore important that the responsibility to protect, understood in that sense, should be the criterion and motivation that underlies all the work of States and of the United Nations to restore peace, security and the human rights.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It is good to recall that even the use of force in keeping with the United Nations rules should be a temporary solution, a true emergency measure, accompanied and followed by a concrete commitment to pacification. For that reason, in taking up the challenge of the responsibility to protect, we must engage in a deeper search for the means to prevent and manage conflicts, exploring all possible diplomatic avenues through negotiation and constructive dialogue, noting and encouraging even the weakest signs of willingness to negotiate or desire for reconciliation on the part of the parties involved. The responsibility to protect must be thought of not as military intervention alone — which should always be the last recourse — but above all as a requirement that the international community be united in facing crises.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“As is known, that principle points to the responsibility of the international community to intervene in situations in which Governments on their own cannot — or do not wish to — comply with their primary responsibility to protect their populations against grave violations of human rights and the effects of humanitarian crises. If States are no longer capable of guaranteeing that protection, the international community must intervene with the juridical means foreseen in the United Nations Charter and other international instruments. However, it must be recalled that there is a risk that that principle may be invoked in certain circumstances as a pretext to use military force.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In certain parts of the world, such as the Horn of Africa, we are, sadly, facing grave humanitarian emergencies that force millions of people — the majority women and children — to leave their homes, large numbers of them being victims of drought, famine and malnutrition. The Holy See renews its appeal to the international community, expressed many times by Pope Benedict XVI, to amplify and support humanitarian policies in those areas and to work to concretely address the various factors that amplify their vulnerability. 41 11-51670 These humanitarian emergencies make clear the need to find innovative ways to put to work the principle of the responsibility to protect, at the base of which is the recognition of the unity of the human family and the innate dignity of every man and every woman.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“They bring ever more clearly in focus the profound interdependence within the family of nations, which sees in the United Nations an important agent, despite its limitations, for identifying and implementing solutions to major international problems. Without attempting an exhaustive survey, my delegation wishes to reflect on a few of the priority challenges so that the concept of the family of nations can increasingly take shape. The first challenge is a humanitarian one. It calls the whole international community — or better, the family of nations — to look after its weakest members.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I have the pleasure of congratulating you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session. I assure you of the full and sincere collaboration of the Holy See. I also congratulate the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, who during this session, on 1 January 2012, will begin his second term. I would also like to cordially welcome the delegation of South Sudan, which became the 193rd Member State of the Organization last July. Every year, the general debate offers the opportunity to address the principal questions that concern humanity in search of a better future for all. The challenges facing the international community are many and difficult.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)