2015-09-25 15:34:00

Pope to UN staff members: "work for peace, in peace"


(Vatican Radio) Before addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday Pope Francis, Pope Francis took time to greet and thank staff members at the UN Headquarters, the men and women whom he described as "the backbone of this Organization".

Vatican Radio's Seán-Patrick Lovett is travelling with Pope Francis during his apostolic journey. He was present during the Pope's address and sent us this report:

It was Pope Francis' brief speech (one of the few given in English) to Staff at the U.N. Headquarters in New York. Short and very sweet, in a few words he summarized, in a simple and intimate way, some of the major messages he would confront before the leaders of the world a little while later.

Calling the multinational, multicultural group of employees a "microcosm"'of the people that the UN represents and serves, the Pope said exactly what all of us already know only too well: "You are concerned about your children's welfare and education"..."You worry about the kind of world you will leave for future generations".

Pope Francis' message was as appropriate for his audience at the United Nations Headquarters in New York as it is for anyone else listening to him anywhere else in the world: "Care for one another. Respect one another". "Work not only for peace - but in peace".

A few lines A few minutes. But something to think about always and everywhere.

Here with Pope Francis at the United Nations in New York - I'm Seán-Patrick Lovett.








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