(Ellie El-Fishawy / Heights Editor)
The world’s smallest country is making a big impact on the global stage—championing peace and human connection when the world needs them more than ever, according to Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations.
“As the Saint Paul says, if a member of your body is suffering, all the body is suffering,” Caccia said. “Remember, as you enjoy, everyone is rejoicing, so we see problems not with the prism of nationality. We want to be a good citizen, but with the prism of the human family.”
In his role at the U.N., Caccia is tasked with advocating the broad ideals of peace, faith, and compassion in the world’s largest multi-governmental organization. Long before becoming a diplomat, Cacia was ordained a priest for the diocese of Milan in 1981.
Caccia said he never planned to take on the daunting role of being a diplomat for the Church. When the Vatican asked him to serve in this role, he had his reservations.
“None of us wanted to be a diplomat,” Caccia said, “I wanted to be a priest, not a diplomat.”
But Caccia recognized that the Church had a different plan for him.
“But then immediately I said, ‘If you think that I’m good to do this job, I will do it,’” Caccia said.
Caccia returned to Rome and continued his studies, earning a doctorate in theology and taking classes in international law and internal affairs. In 1991, Caccia was assigned to his first post in Tanzania before later serving as the Vatican’s chief representative to Lebanon and later the Philippines. Pope Francis appointed him the Holy See’s permanent observer at the U.N. in 2019.
“You’re not just proclaiming doctrine,” Caccia said. “It’s not a mathematic equation—it’s a human relationship, and that is very beautiful to be at. The United Nations, for me, is the best school because we have very talented people, a professional, long career, great experience from all over, the mentality, the culture, and you can engage in really interesting conversation and also good friendship.”
The Holy See has a much different role than most countries in the U.N., according to Caccia. As an observer that does not have economic or trade interests, the Holy See strives to promote human rights and dignity.
“We value any person as created in the image of God, and we see in every person—especially those who are in difficult situations—the presence of Jesus,” Caccia said. “You can’t treat persons as objects,” Caccia said.
Caccia said the Vatican applies its values of equality and dignity to a variety of issues, from migration to hunger to the climate crisis.
At the same time, however, he recognizes the dangers of using religion for political purposes, noting that it can cause divisions—especially amid a rise in religious extremism.
“If you use religion for another goal, which is not praising God and living with the other, you are not a religious person—even if you pray or pretend to read the Holy Books,” Caccia said.
As a diplomat, Caccia has worked with a variety of people from different religious traditions. Caccia said he has learned a lot from these experiences and believes in a world where peace between religions is possible.
Caccia emphasized that problems should not be created where they do not exist. Instead, he said, true progress for humanity comes from a focus on human dignity—a value that transcends borders and languages.
“It doesn’t matter if you belong to these people, if you speak that language, but we recognize that we belong but we recognize that we belong to the same family,” Caccia said.