Diplomats welcome Pope Benedict's visit to United Nations

Published: 2008-04-18

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Brazil's representative to the United Nations, said the pope's April 18 U.N. visit will confirm the resolve of delegations to fulfill the world body's purposes, "including peace among nations, the respect for human rights and development for all." She was exuberant in her praise of the pope's presence at the United Nations. "It is the appropriate venue for a message that all peoples will hear with great interest and benefit," she said. Early in the morning April 18, diplomats streamed into the United Nations to attend the pope's speech in the General Assembly hall later that morning. His U.N. speech was to be followed by greetings to the staff and personnel. He also was scheduled to meet with a smaller group of diplomats. The pope arrived in New York from Washington shortly after 9:30 a.m. By visiting the United Nations, Pope Benedict is continuing a papal tradition: Pope John Paul II visited the United Nations twice, in 1979 and 1995, and Pope Paul VI did so in 1965.

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