By Thomas Edwards, Catholic Herald. (Photo: Nils Huenerfuerst/Unsplash)
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, has called on the international community to do more to end the persecution of Christians globally.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on 29 September, Archbishop Gallagher stated that “Christians are the most persecuted group globally, yet the international community seems to be turning a blind eye to their plight.”
In his wide-ranging speech, the Archbishop also reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to “lasting peace between Israel and Palestine based on a two-state solution”. He added that Pope Leo is calling for the “hostages [to] be freed, that a permanent ceasefire be reached, that the safe entry of humanitarian aid be facilitated, and that humanitarian law be fully respected, especially the obligation to protect civilians as well as prohibitions of collective punishment, indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of the population.”
Syria was also highlighted as an area of concern, with Archbishop Gallagher stating that “Syria’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity must be fully respected.”
The Archbishop gave a particularly erudite explanation of the geopolitics of Africa, noting South Sudan, Sudan and other parts of the Horn of Africa as areas of deep concern. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, which saw the especially harrowing killing of 64 people in an attack on a Catholic parish, was also mentioned. Reflecting on the violence in the region, Archbishop Gallagher said: “The country has been facing one of the world’s most complex multidimensional crises for years, characterised by an unstable security situation and an increasingly severe humanitarian emergency involving acute malnutrition and mass displacement.”