“The Church must be free to serve humanity effectively”

“The Church must be free to serve humanity effectively.” With these words, the Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, highlighted one of the central ideas of his address at the University of Navarra. His remarks were part of the lecture of the 12th International Symposium on Concordat Law, which was inaugurated by the Vice President faculty, Raúl Antón. 

In this context, Archbishop Balestrero presented a discussion paper “The Holy See’s Activities at the United Nations, with Particular Attention to committee .” In his exhibition, he explained the Holy See’s unique role in the international system and emphasized that its observer status allows it to act independently, in what he described as “institutional impartiality by design, not by default.”

He also explained that the Holy See’s actions on the international stage are based on two main principles: the freedom of the Church and the dignity of the person. In this regard, he emphasized the importance of the Church being able to act autonomously in order to fulfill its mission statement. As he noted, this freedom is particularly relevant in areas such as Education healthcare, where Catholic institutions have a significant presence around the world.

With regard to the committee , he emphasized that while its resolutions are not binding, they can influence the laws and public policies of many countries. He also touched on some current debates in this area and stressed the importance of using clear and well-defined concepts. In this context, he noted that “no binding instrument of international law establishes abortion as a human right.”

Finally, Bishop Balestrero placed these issues within a discussion of what we mean by “person” and what human rights are based on. In contrast to some current interpretations, he emphasized the dignity of every person and stated that “human beings are ends in themselves and never a means to solve other problems.” In this regard, he underscored the importance of continuing to reflect on these ideas at the international level.

Eleven sessions featuring leading international experts

The symposium featured a comprehensive academic program with the participation of leading international experts. Alongside the discussion paper by Mons. Ettore Balestrero, José Luis Bazán, advisor to COMECE in Brussels, spoke on ‘The Holy See’s Activities before the committee Europe and COMECE’s Activities before the European Union’; Andrea Gagliarducci, Vatican analyst, spoke on ‘The Geopolitics of the Catholic Church. The administrative office State and Other Bodies at the Service of Papal Diplomacy’; and Eugenia Relaño Pastor, from the Complutense University of Madrid, with ‘Growing development Concordat Activity in Africa and Asia’.

The second workshop Jean-Pierre Schouppe, from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome), with “The Immunity of the Roman Pontiff and the Holy See from the Jurisdiction of the United States and Belgium”; Jorge Otaduy, from the University of Navarra, with “The Scrutiny of the Holy See’s Activities by United Nations Human Rights Committees”; Fernando Simón Yarza, from the University of Navarra, with “The Status of the Holy See as an Observer at the United Nations and in the committee Europe”; and Antonio G. Chizzoniti, from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Piacenza), with “International Obligations of the Holy See and Reform of the Law of the Vatican City State in subject and Economic-Financial subject .”

The third workshop Alberto Tomer of the University of Bologna on “The Order of Malta: Tradition and Innovation in a Millennia-Old Institution”; Montserrat Gas Aixendri of the International University of Catalonia on “NGOs and Other International Catholic Organizations: Canonical and Civil Status’; and Ana María Vega Gutiérrez, from the University of La Rioja, with ‘Religious Actors at the United Nations: Their Role in Peacebuilding, development Human Rights’.