Pope Benedict XVI will address the United Nations next week as "a pilgrim of peace" to promote dialogue between people of different faiths and cultures based on fundamental human rights that are non-negotiable, the Holy See's U.N. observer said Thursday.Pope Benedict XVI's visit on April 18 will be the fourth by a head of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.N.'s 62 years in New York.
Pope Paul VI was the first pontiff to visit the U.N. headquarters in 1967, followed by Pope John Paul II in 1979 and 1995.
Archbishop Celestine Migliore said there are too many world crises for the pope to deal in the 20-25 minutes allocated for his speech to the General Assembly next Friday.
However Migliore said that the pope in his address to representatives of the 192 U.N. member states would talk about how the search for peace has changed in the 21st century's pluralistic, fragmented world.
He said the Catholic Church has always encouraged debates and discussion on religion in the U.N. because it will strengthen issues of peace and development, two U.N. pillars, as well as human rights.
Migliore said that the Holy See understands the U.N. mandate in maintaining peace and security around the world.
"For a long time, peace was a question of limiting or putting an end to conflicts among states or warlords," Migliore said.
"Today...it's a matter of building peace among peoples who have a clear perception of the diversity of their respective cultures, civilizations, religions, ... of human rights, of society, of human existence."
Migliore said the Holy See's priorities at the U.N. remain to communicate with people of different cultures, civilizations and traditions.
He described it as "a dialogue that welcomes the premise of every encounter, the acceptance and respect of the dignity of every person."
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