NEW YORK: A 鈥減rofound rethink鈥� of the multilateral system is needed to respond to the world鈥檚 growing challenges, the Catholic Church鈥檚 central governing body told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
The Holy See was represented by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary of relations with states, who said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e living at a crucial moment for humanity, in which peace seems to give way to war. Conflicts are growing and stability is increasingly put at risk.鈥�
He lauded the UN鈥檚 historical efforts to reduce poverty, help migrants and promote nuclear disarmament, but he warned: 鈥淚n these last years we鈥檝e seen crumbling trust among nations, clear evidence of which is the increase in number and gravity of conflicts and wars.鈥�
This has resulted in an 鈥渋nevitable and equally significant increase in the number of meetings held at different levels, though not always in direct proportion to the effectiveness required in pursuing the proposed goals.鈥�
And though 鈥渞ivers of words鈥� are spent by delegations at international forums, 鈥渙ne doesn鈥檛 always find 鈥� the same willingness to listen,鈥� Gallagher said.
He relayed a message from Pope Francis decrying 鈥渋deological colonization,鈥� which he defined as richer, more powerful countries 鈥渁ttempting to impose their worldview on poorer countries.鈥� The rule of law 鈥渟eems sometimes to be replaced by the law of the strongest,鈥� Gallagher added.
He called for a return to listening and dialogue in the international arena, in an effort to avoid further conflicts and lessen the suffering of humanity.
He added: 鈥淎ll states must rediscover a spirit of service with the intention of building a global solidarity that expresses itself concretely in helping those who suffer.
鈥淎s part of this shared commitment, rulers must put aside their own needs, expectations and desires for sovereignty or omnipotence before the concrete gaze of the most fragile.鈥�
Gallagher said the conflict in Ukraine 鈥渉as been instrumental to bringing back the elevated threat of nuclear escalation into the discussion.鈥�
He described the use of nuclear energy in warfare as a crime 鈥渘ot only against the dignity of human beings, but against any possible future for our common home.鈥�
Another pressing concern for the Holy See is the proliferation of artificial intelligence, Gallagher said. The 鈥渆xpanding digital galaxy we inhabit 鈥� touches every aspect of our lives and community,鈥� he added.
As a result, there is an 鈥渦rgent need鈥� to engage in ethical debate on the use and integration of AI in daily life around the world, Gallagher said.
He relayed a message from Pope Francis: 鈥淲e must be vigilant and work to ensure that the discriminatory use of these instruments doesn鈥檛 take root at the expense of the most fragile and excluded.
鈥淚t isn鈥檛 acceptable that the decision about someone鈥檚 life and future be entrusted to an algorithm.鈥�
The Holy See鈥檚 concern over AI extends to the use of autonomous weapons systems in conflicts, with 鈥渙nly humans鈥� being 鈥渢ruly capable of seeing and judging the ethical impact of their actions.鈥�
The Catholic governing body called for the creation of a global organization to oversee the use of AI.
But technological developments can offer hope to the global fight against climate change, Gallagher said, adding that the international community 鈥渘eeds to focus on a positive outcome鈥� at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in the UAE.
Turning to the issue of human rights, he said: 鈥淟et us never forget that the true litmus test to see if human rights are being protected is the degree to which people have freedom of religion or belief in a country.鈥�
Gallagher added: 鈥淒isturbingly, we continue to live in a world where people are persecuted simply for professing their faith in public.鈥�
He also noted the Holy See鈥檚 concern at the subjective use of the terms 鈥渉ate crime鈥� and 鈥渉ate speech,鈥� adding that they are being used to keep people from expressing their religious beliefs. 鈥淩eligious freedom is one of the absolute minimum requirements necessary to live in dignity,鈥� Gallagher said.
The Holy See is also concerned by the humanitarian situation in Syria, with people in the country 鈥減lagued by 12 years of war, earthquakes and great poverty,鈥� he added. The Church is encouraging the resumption of a political process of reconciliation in Syria.
Sudan is also of great concern to the Holy See, Gallagher said, adding that the governing body 鈥渕akes a heartfelt appeal for the laying down of arms so that dialogue can prevail and the suffering of the population can be alleviated.鈥�
Frequent violence as a result of coups in sub-Saharan Africa has 鈥渄isrupted the democratic process, caused death and destruction, and caused humanitarian and migration crises,鈥� Gallagher said.
鈥淏ehind episodes of terrorism and violence are also international economic interests that encourage the unjust dynamics of colonialism,鈥� he added.
The Holy See expressed 鈥渟erious concern鈥� over events in Jerusalem and its status as a holy city.
Gallagher said: 鈥淚 renew my appeal not only to the Israelis and Palestinians to open to sincere dialogue, but also to the entire international community.鈥�
He ended is address by urging the world to move away from 鈥渢he logic of the legitimacy of war,鈥� adding: 鈥淭he battlefield has become practically unlimited and the effects potentially catastrophic. Peace is possible if it鈥檚 truly willed, and if peace is possible it鈥檚 a duty.鈥�