Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic Archives

Rethink arms funding to protect vulnerable, say Vatican webinar speakers

Mar 25, 2021

The world needs to rethink personal security and move away from the idea that complex weapons systems can protect people, said speakers at a Vatican-led webinar.

By Dennis Sadowski

Vatican supports waiving some patent protections for COVID-19 vaccine

Feb 23, 2021

The Vatican threw its support behind an effort by India, South Africa and a host of developing nations to loosen international patent protections and speed up sub-licensing agreements for the production of COVID-19 vaccines, pharmaceuticals and personal protective equipment.

By Cindy Wooden

Vatican: More must be done to protect rights, dignity of refugees

Jul 9, 2020

The international community must increase its efforts to help protect the lives of refugees, who are often exploited instead of being protected, a Vatican official said.

By Junno Arocho Esteves

Vatican backs debt relief for poor countries as part of COVID recovery

Jul 4, 2020

The Vatican’s representative to the UN in Geneva says coordinated action by the international community is of “utmost importance,” as developing countries are already struggling under unsustainable debt burdens or because they are too poor to tackle the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

By Inés San Martín

Racism in any form is intolerable, Vatican official says at U.N. hearing

Jun 18, 2020

Speaking at a special U.N. discussion about racism and police brutality, a Vatican official repeated Pope Francis’ recent remarks: “We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.”

By Cindy Wooden

UN report on gender equality attacks religious freedom, says official

Mar 5, 2020

A United Nations report addressing gender-based violence and discrimination connected to religious beliefs “is now attacking the very reality it is called to defend,” a Vatican representative told a U.N. meeting in Geneva.

By Carol Glatz

Vatican calls for electoral reform, negotiations to resume in Nicaragua

Sep 10, 2019

With increasing concerns worldwide about human rights violations in Nicaragua, a Vatican representative has called for an immediate return to negotiations and a rollout of reforms necessary to hold “free and transparent elections” there.

By Catholic News Service

Autonomous weapons systems threaten peace, says Vatican official

Mar 28, 2019

The growing use of autonomous weapons systems poses serious risks to global peace and stability, a Vatican representative told a U.N. meeting in Geneva.

By Liam McIntyre