Remarks of His Excellency Archbishop Celestino Migliore
for the Servitor Pacis Award
United Nations Headquarters
7 October 2003
I am pleased to welcome again in a different setting distinguished Representatives, UN Officials, and many friends and supporters of the Holy See Mission to the UN and the Path to Peace Foundation.
We dedicate this reception in a special way in commemoration of the Silver Jubilee of the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, and to express gratitude for 25 years of intense, fruitful, and inspiring years of his pontificate. We are happy and proud to be able to do it here at the headquarters of the UN which he himself has termed a credible instrument for maintaining and strengthening world peace.
We are particularly pleased to honor our beloved Pope, John Paul II, not only with words and compliments, but by recognizing two precious gestures of peace by awarding people who have centered their lives on creating a culture of peace.
The first individual we thought of was the late Dr. Carlo Urbani, the young doctor and official of the World Health Organization (WHO), who was instrumental in detecting the SARS virus in Vietnam, and who did not spare even his own life in order to assist the very first victims of this new deadly disease. In a few moments our friend John Reiner, Treasurer of the Path to Peace Foundation, will read the citation which will give us more details on the ultimate testimony Dr. Urbani left behind.
The context of globalization in which we live, requires that health issues also be considered and dealt with in a global approach to health security. Dr. Urbani laid down solid foundation to this effective approach, not hesitating to offer his own life for it.
Tonight we have the eldest son of Dr. Carlo Urbani, Tommaso. I now ask him to come forward for the citation and would like to reassure him of our sentiments of solidarity and deep sympathy that go out to him and his mother, Mrs. Giuliana Urbani, and to his brother and sister.
· Citation
· Conferral of Award
· Tomasso’s remarks
The second Servitor Pacis Award this evening goes to the Missionary of Charity Sisters in Baghdad. The dear sisters of Mother Theresa are known for their extreme and noted simplicity. They do not intend to carry out their work in obvious ways.
Mother Theresa, who had visited this august place many years ago, and who within 15 days will be beatified by Pope John Paul II at the Vatican, has left the sisters only one legacy: to be near the poorest of the poor in the world, to share with them their daily life, to give to those who have nothing a sense of life, the light and affection that come from others.
The sisters of Mother Theresa have done this with simplicity and great efficacy in Baghdad, hosting many orphaned children or those who have been displaced during the recent Iraqi crisis. Simple, concrete gestures, that leave a sign and create a culture of peace. Their love for a simple life is far removed from human accolades, but they have agreed to accept this Award while remaining at their place of life and work in Baghdad. For this reason, this evening the Award will be accepted by one of their fellow sisters, Sr. Dominga, Superior of the Missionary of Charity Sisters in the Bronx. I am happy to invite our dear Cardinal-elect Renato Martino, founder and President emeritus of the Path to Peace Foundation, to bestow the Award to Sr. Dominga.
