Vatican City, 26 September 2015 (VIS) –
The Pope's second day in New York began with his visit to the United
Nations headquarters, where the Holy See has been represented since
1964 in its status as a Permanent Observer, with the right of
participation without the right to vote.
Upon arrival the Holy Father was
greeted by the Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, with his wife and two
children of United Nations workers who have lost their lives in
service, who offered him a bouquet of flowers. The Pope met privately
with the Secretary General who subsequently accompanied him to the
hall to greet the organisation's staff. Francis laid a floral wreath
before the plaque commemorating staff who have lost their lives in
service, recalling that the work performed by United Nations
employees, from experts to interpreters, kitchen staff to security
personnel, constitutes in many respects the “backbone” of the
Organisation.