Holy See: Human rights, care for others and for creation interconnected

By Vatican News

"The universality of human rights and the universal responsibility to care," was the title of the high-level event organized by the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, held on Friday, December 8.

The event was organized to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to present Pope Francis's apostolic exhortation on the climate crisis, Laudate Deum.

The initiative was co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Sovereign Order of Malta, the “Caritas in Veritate Foundation”, the International Catholic Commission for Migration, and the Catholic-inspired NGO Forum in Geneva.

Archbishop Balestrero on the defence of life

Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva, moderated the meeting and delivered the opening speech.

He began by recognizing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the "cornerstone of the life and work of the United Nations," that acknowledges the "intrinsic dignity of the human person and formally protecting and promoting the human rights that derive from it."

The prelate emphasized that the roots of these human rights "are found in the dignity of every human person created by God" and highlighted the interconnectedness of relationships on this planet.

"We are called to live in a just relationship with God, with each other, with ourselves, and with the entire creation, our common home," he said.

The archbishop then emphasized that "the right to life, sanctioned by Article 3 of the Universal Declaration, must be defended in all stages, from conception to natural death, especially when life is most vulnerable: in illness or infirmity, in conflicts and wars, in workplaces, and along the many paths of our world when people flee from conflicts, disasters, and the effects of climate change."

Furthermore, Archbishop Balestrero described Laudato Si' as a "loud call" to respond to the "attacks on our common home that have consequences for human lives."

The Permanent Observer of the Holy See reiterated Pope Francis's warning regarding the international community's response to the climate crisis, which "has not been adequate, while the world we live in is collapsing and may be close to the breaking point."

Sr. Smerilli on ecological responsibility and social justice

In presenting the apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum, Sister Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, stated that human rights and the safeguarding of creation are "two sides of the same coin."

She added that there is a "deep and direct connection between caring for our brothers and sisters and caring for the earth,” noting that “both are rooted in recognizing life as a gift from God."

Subsequently, Smerilli emphasized how the "myth of unlimited growth" and the "false meritocratic logic" have "provided the basis on which to justify unscrupulous economic pragmatism and the heedless exploitation of natural resources."

She underscored the fact that "ecological responsibility intertwines with social justice and, therefore, with respect and observance of human rights.

Sister Smerilli concluded her remarks by urging the international community to accept "our ethical responsibility towards future generations and the world we will bequeath to them."