ITEST Webinar
The Holy See and the United Nations:
The International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994) as a Case Study
Saturday, August 30, 2025
7:00 am – 9:00 am (Pacific)
8:00 am – 10:00 am (Mountain)
9:00 am – 11:00 am (Central)
10:00 am – noon (Eastern)
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Rome)
Register at the bottom of this page for this webinar.
Webinar fee: FREE FOR EVERYONE!
Donations to ITEST are, of course, always appreciated.
Our presenters
Jane F. Adolphe, LLB/BCL/JCL/JCD
Professor of Law, Ave Maria School of Law
Founder & Executive Director, International Catholic Jurists Forum
The Holy See and the United Nations:
An Introduction
Jane F. Adolphe is a professor of law at Ave Maria School of Law, in Naples, Florida (2001-present), with degrees in civil law (LLB/BCL) and canon law (JCL/JCD). She is also a lawyer qualified to practice law in Alberta, Canada and New York, USA, with an expertise in international human rights law and the Holy See. She is a former external (2002-2011) and internal (2011-2020) advisor to three Popes: John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis-2020) through her work with the Papal Secretariat of State, Section for Relations with States.
Abstract
Professor Adolphe will discuss the nature and mission of the Holy See within the international community and its status within the United Nations Organization (UN), with an overview of the Holy See’s role during the 1990’s when the UN launched a series of international conferences that form the basis of the current UN document: Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainability Goals, and the Holy See’s extensive reservations to the same.
John Klink, M.A.
Former Ambassador and Chief Negotiator
for the Holy See over
UN World Summits in mid-1990s
Gift of Divine Providence:
My Role as a Papal Diplomat
under Saint John Paul II
John Klink was recruited by the Vatican, and subsequently the White House, to serve as a diplomat/negotiator for scores of United Nations World Summits and Conferences during the critical period of the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of the European Union, became an advisor to Popes and Presidents, was elected President of the International Catholic Migration Commission, and with his wife Patricia began a sovereign securities firm on Wall Street.
Honors: Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Knight of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, Knight of Columbus (3rd Degree), and a Knight of Sts. Maurice and Lazarus. Royal Thai Armed Forces Award for Humanitarian Assistance to Displaced Persons in Thailand; 41st CRS Anniversary Award for Humanitarian Assistance; Legatus Ambassador Award.
Abstract
Coming Soon
Webinar resources
Statements to the United Nations General Assembly of the Holy See (pope in the narrow sense, or pope and the Roman Curia, in the broader sense).
1. Pope Paul VI – October 4, 1965
Pope Paul VI was the first Pontiff to address the UN General Assembly. In his speech, he emphasized peace, disarmament, and the role of the UN as a moral force in the world.
📄 Full text of the address
2. Pope John Paul II – October 2, 1979
In his first address to the UN, Pope John Paul II highlighted human rights, the dignity of the human person, and the importance of moral values in international relations.
📄 Full text of the address
3. Pope John Paul II – October 5, 1995
Marking the 50th anniversary of the UN, Pope John Paul II returned to address the General Assembly, focusing on the need for a moral center in global governance and the promotion of peace and justice.
📄 Full text of the address
4. Pope Benedict XVI – April 18, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI addressed the UN General Assembly, discussing the importance of human rights, the responsibility to protect, and the role of religion in public life.
📄 Full text of the address
5. Pope Francis – September 25, 2015
Pope Francis addressed the UN General Assembly, emphasizing environmental issues, social justice, and the need for a more inclusive and equitable global economy.
📄 Full text of the address