The Sandspur

Issue date: 11/4/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Brett Heiney ARCHBISHOP CELESTINO MIGLIORE: The Holy See's Permanent Observer to the UN speaks to members of the Rollins and Catholic communities about the rights of nations.

On Thursday October 27, 2005 His Excellency Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, spoke at Knowles Chapel about the rights of nations. This and other speeches he made during the month of October are in celebration of the tenth anniversary of Pope John Paul II's speech to the UN concerning the rights of nations on October 5, 1995. Archbishop Migliore talked on several issues enveloped by the rights of nations, such as human rights, state sovereignty, international cooperation, and the ideals of the French Revolution.

The Archbishop has worked for the Vatican's diplomatic service since 1980 after graduating the Pontifical Academy for Ecclesiastical Diplomacy and receiving the Doctorate in Cannon Law from the Pontifical Lateran University. He has served in many countries such as Angola, the USA in Washington D.C., Egypt, Poland, and then for the Council of Europe in Strasbourg France before being named the Holy See's Permanent Observer three years ago.

Archbishop Migliore works in part to establish diplomatic relations with nations with which none currently exist. The Vatican currently maintains diplomatic relations with 174 countries, and the Archbishop has worked with several Asian countries such as China to establish official relations. The Holy See expressing interest in developing diplomatic ties with as many nations as possible is indicative of the Archbishop's emphasis on collective good and international cooperation. To achieve an all inclusive global community Archbishop Migliore exclaimed, "Let's globalize solidarity!"

The Archbishop's idea of solidarity is expressed in John Paul II's 1995 speech to the UN. Pope John Paul II said, "Foremost among these duties is certainly that of living in a spirit of peace, respect, and solidarity with other nations. Thus the exercise of the rights of nations, balanced by the acknowledgement and the practice of duties, promotes a fruitful 'exchange of gifts', which strengthens the unity of all mankind." This issue of global peace and collective human interests was central to the Archbishop's anniversary speech and to the Pope's speech.

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