Speech by H.E. Archbishop Celestino Migliore Permanent Observer of the
Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations at the General Assembly on July 1 2004

Thank you, Mr. President.

I am most grateful to you, Mr. President, and to this General Assembly for the adoption by consensus of this Resolution on the participation of the Holy See in the work of the United Nations, under agenda item 59, entitled “Strengthening of the United Nations system.”

Mr. President,

The adoption of this Resolution could not have come at a more auspicious time than this, as the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See is happily celebrating the fortieth anniversary of its presence at this Organization this year.

In the context of strengthening the role of the United Nations and of revitalizing the work of this General Assembly, the adoption of this Resolution is an important step forward and reflects the lofty values and collective interests shared by the Holy See and the United Nations. We are committed to the same objectives that necessitate the protection of the fundamental human rights, the preservation of the dignity and worth of the human person and the promotion of the common good. To achieve these goals, we need an ordered international community built upon the strong edifice of law – a law not of whim and caprice but of principles stemming from the very universality of human nature – that can guide human reason for the future. With an edifice built on such principles guiding our efforts, we can be assured of attaining our mutual quest for a lasting and universal justice and peace.

Mr. President,

Allow me to say a word of warm thanks to you for the unflinching support and much appreciated willingness to submit this Resolution as a presidential text. My gratitude also to the esteemed members of the staff in the Office of the President and of the Department of the General Assembly and Conference Management for their kind support.

Mr. President, through you, may I also thank His Excellency, Ambassador Marcello Spatafora, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations, for having assisted you, and facilitated so skillfully and efficiently the consultation on this draft Resolution leading it to a successful conclusion.

Finally, Mr. President, I would be remiss if I do not express a word of gratitude to so many Permanent Representatives who expressed to me their personal and their Governments’ support for the Resolution just adopted. My thanks as well to all Member States for their invaluable support in the adoption of this Resolution.

Thank you, Mr. President.