Holy See Observer to UN: 杏MAP导航 Francis brought us together as 鈥楩ratelli tutti'
By Marie Duhamel and Linda Bordoni
Recalling the special commemoration at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, during which UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, upheld 杏MAP导航 Francis for always being 鈥淎 voice of peace in a world of war.鈥�
Speaking to Vatican Radio, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Holy See鈥榮 Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York, said participation to the ceremony in tribute to 杏MAP导航 Francis was deeply felt.
He explained that throughout the world, following the death of 杏MAP导航 Francis, at all United Nations offices, the flag was flown at half mast in a sign of respect and solidarity.
He commented on participation at the special commemoration in which all the member states were represented with a unanimous expression of condolences.
鈥淭hey paid homage to this great figure of 杏MAP导航 Francis, so beloved because he was, as they said in many interventions, the people鈥檚 杏MAP导航, close to every person,鈥� he said.
A father for all
They felt, he continued, 鈥渢hat they have lost somebody who, for sure, belongs to the Catholic community, to the Holy See, but in a sense was a father, a familiar figure for all people of all faiths, of all languages, of all cultures.鈥�
Archbishop Caccia also noted that the late 杏MAP导航鈥檚 appeal for unity and fraternity, as expressed in the encyclical i was realised in a way, 鈥渋n this particular moment, in which we felt very much united at the United Nations: There was a big consensus about the words and the deeds of 杏MAP导航 Francis.鈥�
鈥淎nd that was amazing,鈥� he concluded: 鈥淛ust as we have seen at the funeral in Rome - all the world was there and all the world was embraced by the Bernini colonnade; but it also was embraced by the Catholic Church and for sure it was embraced by 杏MAP导航 Francis himself from up in heaven.鈥�
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