Pope Benedict says it is the duty of all nations to protect people from grave human rights violations and humanitarian crises.
The pope told the U.N. General Assembly if states are unable to guarantee such protection, the international community must intervene with the means provided in the United Nations charter and other international instruments.
He said the promotion of human rights remains the most effective strategy for increasing security and eliminating inequalities between countries and social groups.
The 81-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church is also scheduled to visit a synagogue while in New York, and will hold an ecumenical prayer service at a Catholic church (Saint Joseph Parish) with an estimated 250 Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic church leaders.
The pope traveled to New York Friday morning from Washington, where he met with President George Bush, celebrated Mass for more than 45-thousand people and held a private meeting with people who were sexually abused by Catholic clergy.
REST OPT
During the Mass at Washington's baseball stadium (Nationals Park), the pontiff expressed regret about the sexual abuse of minors by U.S. priests and called for healing for the victims.
On Sunday, the pope will celebrate an outdoor Mass at New York's Yankee Stadium, and visit the site of the former World Trade Center, which was destroyed by al-Qaida terrorists on September 11th, 2001.
He arrived in the United States Tuesday for his first U.S. visit as head of the Roman Catholic Church.
The pontiff, wearing a white cassock, waved to onlookers upon his arrival Friday in New York from Washington. He then headed to the United Nations, where he was greeted by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and others.
The pope Friday also is holding an ecumenical prayer service at a Catholic church with an estimated 250 Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic church leaders.
Thursday in Washington, the pope celebrated Mass for more than 45,000 people. During the outdoor event at the city's baseball stadium, Nationals Park, the pontiff expressed regret about the sexual abuse of minors by U.S. priests and called for healing for the victims.
He later held a private meeting at the Vatican Embassy with a small group of sex abuse victims.
Pope Benedict also addressed Catholic educators at Washington's Catholic University of America, praising them for their dedication while urging them to strictly uphold the teachings of the church.
Sunday in New York, the pope is to hold an outdoor Mass at Yankee Stadium, and visit the site of the former World Trade Center, which was destroyed by al-Qaida terrorists on September 11, 2001.
Source: By VOA News
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