St. John Paul II's Address to the United Nations in 1979: A "Stunning Speech" Indeed

St. John Paul II during his address at the United Nations in 1979. Photo: Catholic News Service via Salt and Light Media

Recently I had finished reading George Weigel's book, Lessons in Hope: My Unexpected Life With St. John Paul II, where he described Saint John Paul II's address to the United Nations (UN) in 1979, as a "stunning speech." As with many of Weigel's writings on St. John Paul II, they lead to further readings from his many references, citations, extensive endnotes, and bibliographies. Being somewhat intrigued by that description, I had decided to add the speech to my blog-draft list. 

The speech is twelve pages printed and like so many of Saint John Paul II's writings, it contains a dense amount of information that requires the reader's full and undivided attention. After having read it twice, I completely agree with Weigel's description: it is indeed a stunning speech!

At the core of Saint John Paul II's speech is the human person: the importance of each individual's dignity and inalienable rights, and how all threats to peace can ultimately be identified and measured by the manner in which States fail to safeguard and ensure man's freedom and ability to live his human dimension to the fullest.

The hour-long speech began with Saint John Paul II's gratitude to the general assembly and in particular to the Secretary-General of the United Nations Organization, Dr. Kurt Waldheim, for inviting him to address the thirty-fourth general assembly. Saint John Paul II then segued into the formal reason for his intervention: the special bond of cooperation that links the Apostolic See with the United Nations—indicated by the presence of the Holy See's Permanent Observer—one that is held in high esteem by the Holy See.

In addition to that bond, Saint John Paul II highlighted the Apostolic See's esteem for the United Nations as a "supreme forum for international life of humanity today," which received much attention in papal messages, encyclicals, in documents of the Catholic episcopate, and in the Second Vatican Council. 

Drawing upon his predecessors' (Popes John XXIII and Paul VI) "look of confidence" on the UN as a "promising sign of our times," Saint John Paul II reinforced that confidence and conviction, which as he stated did not stem from merely political reasons, but of the ...[R]eligious and moral character of the mission of the Roman Catholic Church." (4)

Moreover, Saint John Paul II pointed out the Catholic Church, as a universal community of faithful that exists in almost all countries and continents, "...[I]s deeply interested in the existence and activity of the Organization whose very name tells us that it unites and associates nations and States." (4) Elaborating further, he stated, "It seeks out the ways for understanding and peaceful collaboration, and endeavours with the means at its disposal and the methods in its power to exclude war, division, and mutual destruction within the great family of humanity today." (4)

This was the "real reason, the essential reason" for Saint John Paul II's presence at the UN that day in October 1979. 

The speech was not without scriptural passages. Referring to the occasion when Jesus was before the tribunal of the Roman judge Pilate, where He declared that the purpose of His existence in the world was to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37), Saint John Paul II made it clear that, as the Vicar of Christ, his mission was to do likewise.

Saint John Paul II expressed his gratitude once again and then congratulated the general assembly for the opportunity to speak that day, which as he stated, "...[S]hows that the United Nations Organization accepts and respects the religious and moral dimension of those human problems that the Church attends to, in view of the message of truth and love that it is her duty to bring to the world." (5)

By no means was the address limited to those in the UN General Assembly building. Saint John Paul II extended his greetings to all men and women living on the planet; a greeting that placed an important focus on the human person.

Highlighting the importance of the human person, Saint John Paul II emphasized that although members of the UN represent a particular State, system, and political structure, they represent above all "individual human beings," of which each one is endowed with dignity as a human person, with "...[H]is or her own culture, experiences and aspirations, tensions and sufferings, and legitimate expectations." (6)

Saint John Paul II reminded the representatives that political activity "comes from man, is exercised by man and is for man," and what justifies any political activity is service to man; one that has a responsibility and concern for the essential problems and duties of "...[H]is earthly existence in its social dimension and significance, on which also the good of each person depends." (6)

Several minutes (almost two pages worth) was dedicated to the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in which Saint John Paul II referred to it not only as a "fundamental document," but a "real milestone on the path of the moral progress of humanity." (7) Defining progress, he went on to state that, "The progress of humanity must be measured not only by the progress of science and technology, which shows man's uniqueness with regard to nature, but also and chiefly by the primacy given to spiritual values and by the progress of moral life." (7)

Acknowledging the importance of unity, Saint John Paul II highlighted how nations have understood that if they are not to go to war, they must unite and associate with each other. Moreover, he stressed that the "real and fundamental way" to achieve this was through "...[E]ach human being, through the definition and recognition of and respect for the inalienable rights of individuals and of the communities of peoples. (7)

Saint John Paul II also provided what has proven to be a prophetic warning; that is, if the truths and principles contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were forgotten or ignored, the UN would be faced with the threat of a new destruction. Elaborating on how this new destruction would come about he stated:

This is what would happen if the simple yet powerful eloquence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were decisively subjugated by what is wrongly called political interest, but often really means no more than one-sided gain and advantage to the detriment of others, or a thirst for power regardless of the needs of others—everything which by its nature is opposed to the spirit of the Declaration. 'Political interest' understood in this sense, if you pardon me, ladies and gentlemen, dishonours the noble and difficult mission of your service for the good of your countries and of all humanity. (9)

"No more war, war never again!" Saint John Paul II spoke these words, citing from his predecessor, Pope Paul VI, who fourteen years earlier addressed the UN from the same podium. In 1979, there was great cause for concern of war breaking out throughout the world: it was only in 1978—through direct intervention from the Vatican that successfully mediated a solution to the Beagle Channel boundary dispute—that a war was averted between Argentina and Chile; not to mention the Middle East crises which not only persist to this day, but have increased.

Saint John Paul II's concern about the possibilities of wars breaking out was also merited by "troubling reports" of weaponry being developed beyond the size and means of war, and how such realities seriously endangered humanity by the threat of destruction.

Avoiding war requires energetic and continuous efforts to ensure that attitudes, convictions, intentions, and aspirations of governments are not geared toward the possibility of provoking war. Saint John Paul II reminded the UN that this is a duty for every society, regime, and government.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights as Saint John Paul II pointed out, "...[S]truck a real blow against the many deep roots of war, since the spirit of war, in its basic primordial meaning, springs up and grows to maturity where the inalienable rights of man are violated." (11)

Examining the principle tensions that can weaken peace, Saint John Paul II made what is perhaps one of "the" most salient points in the speech, "Every analysis must necessarily start from the premise that—although each person lives in a particular concrete social historical context—every human being is endowed with a dignity that must never be lessened, impaired or destroyed but must instead be respected and safeguarded, if peace is really to be built up." (12)

As to the many inalienable rights Saint John Paul II enumerated some of the most important ones that are universally recognized:

...[T]he right to life, liberty and security of person; the right to food, clothing, housing, sufficient health care, rest and leisure; the right to freedom of expression, education and culture; the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the right to manifest one's religion either individually or in community, in public or in private; the right to choose a state of life, to found a family and to enjoy all conditions necessary for family life; the right to property and work, to adequate working conditions and a just wage; the right of assembly and association; the right to freedom of movement, to internal and external migration; the right to nationality and residence; the right to political participation and the right to participate in the free choice of the political system of the people to which one belongs. (13)

Moreover, Saint John Paul II pointed out that these human rights are, "...[I]n keeping with the substance of the dignity of the human being, understood in his entirety, not as reduced to one dimension only. These rights concern the satisfaction of man's essential needs, the exercise of his freedoms, and his relationship with others; but always and everywhere they concern man, they concern man's full human dimension. (13)

Saint John Paul II reminded the general assembly that man lives in the world with both material and spiritual values with the latter having a "pre-eminence": the values of the spirit define the proper sense of earthly material goods and the way to use them. When material and technical development, and the development of civilization as a whole are guided by the pre-eminence of spiritual values, they not only serve what constitutes man, but form the basis of a just peace. (14)

Having distinguished material and spiritual values, Saint John Paul II then proceeded with a critical analysis of our modern civilization, in which he not only highlighted how the world has experienced the development of material goods as has never seen before, but also pointed to the rise in attitudes of "insensitivity to the spiritual dimension of human existence." (15) In his analysis, Saint John Paul II identified two main systematic threats against human rights: the distribution of material goods, and the various forms of injustice in the field of the spirit.

The distribution of goods as Saint John Paul II pointed out, is "...[F]requently unjust both within individual societies and on the planet as a whole." (17) Nature's bounty allows man to possess and enjoy many goods but when the inequality of possession of material goods occurs (and in their enjoyment), it can result in injustice and social injury. (17)

Saint John Paul II then went on to describe how economic tensions between States and even entire continents, can contain "substantial elements" that can "restrict or violate human rights." Expanding on this point, he stated:

Such elements are the exploitation of labour and many other abuses that affect the dignity of the human person. It follows that the fundamental criterion for comparing social, economic and political systems is not, and cannot be, the criterion of hegemony and imperialism; it can be, and indeed it must be, the humanistic criterion, namely the measure in which each system is really capable of reducing, restraining and eliminating as far as possible the various forms of exploitation of man and of ensuring for him, through work, not only the just distribution of the indispensable material goods, but also a participation, in keeping with his dignity, in the whole process of production and in the social life that grows up around that process. Let us not forget that, although man depends on the resources of the material world for his life, he cannot be their slave, but he must be their master. The words of the book of Genesis, "Fill the earth and subdue it" (Gen 1 :28), are in a sense a primary and essential directive in the field of economy and of labour policy. (17)

Another aspect of this first systematic threat against human rights is the "frightful disparities" between the excessively rich and those who are extremely poor, even destitute. Saint John Paul II referred to this disparity as an "abyss" which is not only a grave symptom in the life of any society, but also separates countries and regions of the earth.

To remedy such disparities will require a unified and coordinated effort by all countries that must be based on what Saint John Paul II referred to as "an authentic perspective of peace":

Everything will depend on whether these differences and contrasts in the sphere of the "possession" of goods will be systematically reduced through truly effective means, on whether the belts of hunger, malnutrition, destitution, underdevelopment, disease and illiteracy will disappear from the economic map of the earth, and on whether peaceful cooperation will avoid imposing conditions of exploitation and economic or political dependence, which would only be a form of neocolonialism. (18)

With regard to the second, main systemic threat to human rights in the modern world—the various forms of injustice in the field of the spirit—Saint John Paul II focussed on how man can be wounded in his inner relationship with truth: in his conscience; in his most personal belief; his view of the world; in his religious faith; and in the sphere of civil liberties.

Fundamental to civil liberties is the equality of rights without discrimination—on the grounds of origin, race, religion, nationality, sex, and political convictions—which Saint John Paul II went on to define as, "...[T]he exclusion of the various forms of privilege for some and discrimination against others, whether they are people born in the same country or people from different backgrounds of history, nationality, race and ideology." (19) He also point out that despite the "thrust of civilization" giving life to political societies that safeguard the objective rights of the spirit—human conscience and creativity, and man's relationship with God—there are recurring threats and violations against these rights, often with, "...[No] possibility of appealing to a higher authority or of obtaining an effective remedy." (19)

Drawing attention to another problem with political systems that safeguard freedom of the spirit (freedom of thought, expression, conscience, and religious freedom) Saint John Paul II stressed that within those systems exist social structures that "condemns" man to become a second-class or third-class citizen, which can be identified by compromised advancement in the social and professional life, and in the inability of families to freely educate their children. Moreover, he stated, "It is a question of the highest importance that in internal social life, as well as in international life, all human beings in every nation and country should be able to enjoy effectively their full rights under any political regime or system." (19)

Religious freedom is absolutely essential to the cause of peace. Highlighting the importance of religious freedom, Saint John Paul II cited from the Second Vatican Council's Declaration, Dignitatis Humanae (on the right of the person and communities to social and civil freedoms in matters religious):

In accordance with their dignity, all human beings, because they are persons, that is, beings endowed with reason and free will and therefore bearing personal responsibility, are both impelled by their nature and bound by a moral obligation to seek the truth, especially religious truth. They are also bound to adhere to the truth once they come to know it and to direct their whole lives in accordance with its demands (Dignitatis Humanae, 2). (20)

The United Nations proclaimed 1979, to be the "Year of the Child." Saint John Paul II expressed his joy on the subject of children. He also reminded the delegates that a child's life begins at conception, "Concern for the child, even before birth, from the first moment of conception and then throughout the years of infancy and youth, is the primary and fundamental test of the relationship of one human being to another." (21) He went on to further state, "And so, what better wish can I express for every nation and the whole of mankind, and for all the children of the world than a better future in which respect for human rights will become a complete reality throughout the third millennium, which is drawing near." (21)

At the close of his address, Saint John Paul II expressed his hope for peace, justice, and freedom for all peoples of the world, and that the United Nations would continue to be, "...[A]n authentic seat of freedom of peoples and individuals in their longing for a better future. (23)

Attending the thirty-fourth general assembly must have been quite the experience for State representatives, the press, and others. George Weigel was one such individual—a "newbie columnist" on his first major assignment: Saint John Paul II's papal pilgrimage to the United States in October 1979. It was a speech that Weigel would come to analyze and write about twenty years later.

In Witness to Hope, the first of three seminal works on the life and papacy of Saint John Paul II, Weigel dedicated three and a half pages (chapter ten, The Ways of Freedom) to Saint John Paul II's 1979 UN address. Although it was written and published many years prior to Lessons in Hope, that information and in particular the concluding paragraph serves as another resource of just how stunning a speech it truly was:

The delegates to the General Assembly had listened to John Paul's address in silence. No one had wandered about the floor of the General Assembly, as often happened during normal business. However they construed its meaning, the representatives of the worlds of power knew that they had been listening to a force to be reckoned with. (350)

Saint John Paul II's speech is perhaps more relevant today than when it was first delivered in 1979. If one reads the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and compares it to the many UN resolutions passed and the initiatives undertaken over the past few decades it will not take much time or effort to conclude that the United Nations has significantly deviated from its origins. What was once an international forum that staunchly defended the human person, and each individual's dignity and inalienable rights has today become a battlefield for the social engineering of States—heavily influenced by non-governmental organizations (NGO) and lobbyists, funded by globalist billionaires—with agendas that bring about a moral disorder in society and a Culture of Death.

The details of what the United Nations has become today can be read at C-Fam: Center for Family and Human Rights.

Saint John Paul II's address is a treasure trove of clarity, knowledge, and understanding about the truth of the human person and how each individual's dignity and inalienable rights are inseparable from freedom and peace in the world.