Heed pain of others, archbishop says at prayer service for U.N.

Published: 2004-09-15

UNITED NATIONS (CNS) -- As the U.N. General Assembly prepared to open its fall session, the chief Vatican representative to the body called on nations and individuals to "never be indifferent to the pain of our fellow creatures, no matter how often it is placed before us by events." Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, made the comment at a prayer service the day before the opening of the 59th session of the General Assembly. "We pray that there may be greater understanding, respect and cooperation among the family of nations, to the benefit of all peoples, especially the poor, the weak and the innocent," the archbishop said. Among those attending the Sept. 13 service in Holy Family Church, near the U.N. headquarters in New York, were U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan; New York Cardinal Edward M. Egan; Jean Ping of Gabon, incoming president of the General Assembly; and Julian Hunte of St. Lucia, president of the General Assembly's last session.

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