The Holy See at the United Nations: solidarity to eradicate poverty

Vatican City, 4 November 2014 (VIS) – Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Holy See Permanent Observer at the United Nations in New York, spoke at the 69th Session of the General Assembly held on 23 October, regarding the “Eradication of Poverty”.

Speaking in English, the nuncio expressed the Holy See delegation's belief that “countries should develop evidence-based policies and strategies to combat extreme poverty, rather than relying on pre-conceived one-size-fits-all solutions. Analyses and suggested solutions need to be based on on-the-ground expertise and lived experience, rather than on imposed ready-made solutions from the outside, which are not always devoid of ideological colourings”.

He also remarked that sustainable development “requires the participation of all in the life of families, communities, organisations and societies. Participation is the antidote to exclusion, be it social, political, economic or cultural”. Another barrier to sustainable development, he noted, is “the exclusion of women from equal and active participation in the development of their communities. Excluding women and girls from education and subjecting them to violence and discrimination violates their inherent dignity and fundamental human rights”.

“My delegation wishes to highlight that poverty is not mere exclusion from economic development; it is as multifaceted and multidimensional as the human person. … Other than its more obvious economic expression, poverty also manifests itself in the educational, social, political, cultural and spiritual dimensions of life. … Development is more than the sum total of resources invested into development projects and their measurable material results. … In our efforts to eradicate poverty, we must always return to the foundational principle of our efforts, namely to promote the authentic development of the whole person and of all peoples. Each of us needs to contribute. Each of us can benefit. This is solidarity”.

Other Pontifical Acts

Vatican City, 4 November 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed:

- Bishop Peter F. Christensen of Superior, U.S.A., as bishop of Boise City (area 218,272, population 1,584,985, Catholics 174,348, priests 91, permanent deacons 75, religious 91), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Michael P. Driscoll, whose resignation from the same diocese upon having reached the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.

- Bishop Christopher Kakooza, auxiliary of Kampala, Uganda, as bishop of Lugazi (area 4,595, population 1,549,134, Catholics 667,362, priests 80, religious 209), Uganda. He succeeds Bishop Matthias Ssekamanya, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon having reached the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.

- Bishop Adolfo Armando Uriona, F.D.P., of Anatuya, Argentina as bishop of Villa de la Concepcion del Rio Cuarto (area 58,519, population 466,000, Catholics 443,000, priests 93, permanent deacons 10, religious 82), Argentina.

- Rev. Fr. Carlos Enrique Trinidad Gomez as bishop of San Marcos (area 3,791, population 982,000, Catholics 637,000, priests 45, religious 103), Guatemala. The bishop-elect was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala in 1955 and was ordained a priest in 1984. He holds a licentiate in theology and liturgy from the Higher Institute of Liturgy in Barcelona, Spain, and has served in a number of pastoral and academic roles, as parish priest and episcopal vicar in the diocese of Santiago de Guatemala and as lecturer, bursar and rector of the interdiocesan major seminary.