(New York) Speaking on Monday at the Summit of the Future taking place in New York in the framework of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Cardinal Pietro Parolin , Secretary of State of the Holy See, delivered a speech marked by hope and engagement.
The Cardinal made no secret of the fact that “the current Summit is being convened against a backdrop of apparent crisis in the multilateral system”, which is “largely attributable to the erosion of trust between nations and intensity of conflict.” At the same time, he called for the Summit to be seen as “a source and a reason for hope.” In this regard, Parolin quoted Pope Francis, recalling that to be hopeful does not mean to be optimistically naïve or simply get by in the present, but to “envisage a tomorrow.” And it is in the light of this future for humanity that the Secretary of State suggested three areas of intervention for the political leaders attending the UN Assembly.
“First, eradication of poverty must remain the overarching goal of all future action, bearing in mind that development is the name for peace”,
His Eminence said, calling for the political will “to use all possible means to achieve sustainable development”, which includes “the reform of international financial institutions, debt restructuring and the implementation of debt forgiveness strategies.”
The second proposal of the Secretary of State concerns the pursuit of peace, a general disarmament, and, in particular, the total elimination of nuclear weapons. He went on to denounce the role of economic lobbies that “must be resisted in order to uphold human dignity and ensure a future in which all human beings can enjoy integral development.”
The third area of intervention is that of Artificial Intelligence (AI), in respect of which the Holy See calls for a regulatory framework for AI ethics “that addresses, inter alia, data protection, accountability, bias, and the impact of AI on employment.”
In his five-minute speech, Parolin urged to take into account the needs and interests of future generations, calling for “a dignified future for all”, that may facilitate the blossoming of every person. Finally, he highlighted “genuine” dialogue as a “necessary means” for working together for justice and global peace.
While acknowledging the adoption of the Pact for the Future and its Annexes, the Holy See expressed its reservations on some of the concepts used in the document regarding reproductive rights, not applied to a holistic concept of health as understood by the Holy See, but rather pointing to the non-protection of human life and marriage. Further clarity was expressed on the term ‘gender’, which the Holy See understands to “be grounded in the biological sexual identity that is male or female.” Religious faiths were virtually absent from the Pact for the Future. Indeed, during the negotiation process, the Mission of the Holy See underlined on several occasions the importance of not excluding academia, science and religions from a Pact that involves not only national governments, but also the contribution that these institutions, especially religious ones, can make in the field of education and reconciliation in times of conflict.
The reform of the United Nations, another topical issue envisaged by the Pact, was the subject of numerous proposals. While national governments have reached a consensus on the need to change the United Nations system, for the Holy See’s Mission these prospects pave the way for actual efforts that will require further talks and the commitment of all, including civil society and religious faiths.
