Cardinal Parolin affirms Vatican’s ‘unwavering’ support for United Nations’ mission

As Pope Leo XIV begins his pontificate with an emphasis on peace, justice and bridge-building, the Vatican has reaffirmed its “unwavering support for the mission of the United Nations” amid conflict and other urgent challenges facing the global community.
The Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, addressed U.N. representatives at the entity’s New York headquart-ers during a May 19 reception in honour of Pope Leo’s election. The reception was organized by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations.
The Holy See established diplomatic relations with the U.N. in 1957, representing the Vatican City State as well as the supreme authority of the Catholic Church, including the pope as bishop of Rome and the head of the college of bishops.
Attending the U.N. reception just hours after Leo’s May 18 inauguration Mass at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Parolin noted that “the election of a new pope is an occasion for renewal, not only for Catholics but for all who seek a world of greater justice, solidarity and peace.”
That message echoed one by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, who said in a May 8 statement that the papal election, along with its “profound spiritual significance … comes at a time of great global challenges.” Paro-lin said the pope, “in his first days as the successor of Peter, has expressed his deep commit-ment to building bridges, under-scoring the need to meet, dialogue and negotiate.”
The cardinal described the U.N.’s mission as creating “a forum where states engage in dialogue, bringing forth the voices of their peoples, and where solutions to humanity’s greatest challenges are forged.”