On 30 September, Monday marked sixty years since the launch of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrated the Holy Mass at the Church of the Holy Family, not far from the United Nations building in New York to commemorate this mission. Apostolic Nuncio and current Permanent Observer, Archbishop Gabriel Giordana Caccia, celebrated Mass with priests from the Archdiocese of New York. 250 diplomats, UN observers, staff members and their families also attended the Mass.
The origins of the Holy See’s presence at the UN date back to the early 1960s. It begins at a time when faith communities need to be allies in the UN to build a consensus among superpowers on the various crises facing the world.
The role played by Pope John XXIII during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the position of neutrality adopted by the Holy See to resolve it is commendable.
The Holy See is not a “full member” of the UN. To maintain neutrality in the political sphere, permanent observer status is being maintained.