Cardinal Parolin at UN: ‘Restore trust’ through dialogue, justice and peace

Vatican News

Cardinal Pietro Parolin has called on the international community to restore trust through dialogue, justice and respect for international law, warning against the growing reliance on force in international relations.

Addressing the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday, the Vatican Secretary of State conveyed the greetings of Pope Leo XIV and said this year’s theme, “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that delivers for All,” represents “an urgent moral and political imperative.”

“Every international institution, beyond its legal framework, requires mutual trust among its members to be effective,” he said, stressing that trust is fostered through “mutual respect and dialogue” and a commitment to human dignity and justice.

A diplomacy of dialogue

Cardinal Parolin highlighted Pope Leo XIV’s emphasis on peace, justice and truth as essential principles for diplomacy. He recalled the Pope’s call for a shift from a “culture of power” to a “genuine ‘culture of negotiation’,” in which dialogue and diplomacy become the normal means of resolving conflicts.

“Peace is not a ‘negative’ word,” Cardinal Parolin said, recalling that peace requires truth and justice and must be built through patient efforts to establish just relationships within and among nations.

“Peace is the fruit of justice,” he added, pointing to inequality, exclusion, violations of fundamental rights and the failure to recognise others as brothers and sisters among factors that contribute to conflict.

The Cardinal also called for renewed efforts towards disarmament, warning that legitimate concerns for national defence should not become a race towards massive rearmament.

Human dignity and artificial intelligence

A significant part of the intervention focused on technological transformation, particularly artificial intelligence.

“In an age that risks reducing the person to consumer, data, or instrument,” Cardinal Parolin said, “Pope Leo XIV insists that the human person remains the measure of all progress.”

He highlighted the moral questions raised by lethal autonomous weapons systems and stressed that responsibility for the use of lethal force cannot be transferred to machines.

“The decision to use lethal force cannot be delegated to opaque or automated processes, but must remain under effective, self-aware and responsible human control,” he said.

The Holy See, he added, supports an international framework capable of limiting a technological arms race while ensuring accountability and protection for civilians. Technology must respect “the primacy of the human person,” allowing human conscience and freedom to guide technological development and determine its limits.

Appeals for peace in Ukraine and the Middle East

Cardinal Parolin addressed several ongoing conflicts, calling for an immediate end to hostilities and a return to diplomacy.

On Ukraine, he said that after more than four years of war, the death toll continues to rise. “Peace cannot be postponed; weapons must fall silent, and bombardments must cease,” he said, urging support for “an immediate, complete and effective ceasefire.”

Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Holy See reiterated its call for an end to violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. Cardinal Parolin also expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, citing widespread destruction, mass displacement and severe shortages, and urged the international community to work towards a two-state solution “with a view to bringing about a just and lasting peace.”

He also addressed conflicts and humanitarian emergencies in the Gulf region, Myanmar, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Venezuela, Haiti and elsewhere, repeatedly calling for dialogue, humanitarian assistance, reconciliation and respect for human dignity.

Protecting human dignity

The Holy See’s intervention also emphasised the universality of human rights and the protection of those most vulnerable, including migrants and refugees.

“Dignity is not dependent on geographical location or socioeconomic status,” Cardinal Parolin said. “Those who move, or are forced to move, always maintain their dignity.”

He also highlighted religious freedom and condemned discrimination, violence and persecution against Christians and other religious communities.

“The defence of any one community’s freedom strengthens the freedom of all,” he said.

Renewing multilateralism

Returning to the theme of the General Assembly, Cardinal Parolin acknowledged that “multilateralism is in crisis”, while stressing that this makes renewed international cooperation all the more necessary.

“The crisis of multilateralism does not diminish its importance,” he said. What is required, he argued, is “the will to uphold justice rather than resort to violence; the will to uphold the rule of law rather than submit to domination; the will to choose peace over destruction.”

Cardinal Parolin address the General Debate of the UN General Assembly   (ANSA) {"@context": "http://schema.org","@type": "ImageObject","contentUrl": "https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/ansa/2026/09/26/16/1790433653673.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg","creditText": "Vatican News","height": "750","width": "422"}