Vatican may seek full membership in United Nations. (People & Events).The Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church, Christian church headed by the pope, the bishop of Rome (see papacy and Peter, Saint). Its commonest title in official use is Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. may soon seek full membership in the United Nations, a top church official has indicated. Currently, the Vatican has permanent observer status Observer status is defined in the World Health Organization (WHO) Constitution as a status which the World Health Assembly (WHA) may grant to "any organization, international or national, governmental or non-governmental, which has responsibilities related to those of the at the UN, a status it has held since 1964. In late November, Cardinal Angelo Sodano Angelo Cardinal Sodano J.C.D. S.T.D. (born 23 November 1927) is the Dean of the College of Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church. He was the Cardinal Secretary of State in the Roman Curia from 1991 to 2006, now holding the title of Cardinal Secretary Emeritus of State. , Vatican secretary of state, said the church is interested in seeking full UN membership, especially if the enhanced status would enable it to perform a peace-keeping role in the world. The Vatican, Sodano told Corriere della Sera Corriere della Sera ("Evening Courier") is an Italian daily newspaper (first in sales [2]), published in Milan. It is the most famous Italian national newspaper, and among the oldest, founded on Sunday, March 5 1876 by Eugenio Torelli Viollier. , is studying "possible forms of a greater presence in that assembly." He said that could include full UN membership "if it should be useful." "In that organization, there were two permanent observers--Switzerland and us," Sodano told the newspaper. "Now Switzerland has become a member and we are alone. The form of our presence is an open question." As a permanent observer, Vatican officials are allowed to take part in UN discussions and debate but do not vote at the general assembly. The Vatican is Noun 1. Vatican I - the Vatican Council in 1869-1870 that proclaimed the infallibility of the pope when speaking ex cathedra First Vatican Council Vatican Council - each of two councils of the Roman Catholic Church permitted to vote at UN-sponsored international conferences, where it often sides with hard-line Islamic states to block reproductive fights initiatives. Increasingly, the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. has sided with the Vatican in these votes as well. Sodano said the Vatican's role at the UN is to undertake "discreet and patient work to promote peace and make the Christian message known." Other Vatican officials are apparently thinking along the same lines. Archbishop Renato R. Martino, who recently completed a 16-year term as the Vatican's UN representative, was asked by Catholic News Service if the Vatican should seek full membership in the international body. He replied, "I think it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a ." No other religious body has official representation at the United Nations. The Holy See, as the Vatican's operation is known, has diplomatic ties with 170 countries, including the United States. |
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