Apr 18, 2008 / 11:24 am
The UN has the duty to protect life, but this duty should not be seen as permission for the international body to violate a state’s sovereignty, Pope Benedict told the world leaders this morning in New York.
The role that the UN has taken on recently of running peacekeeping missions is one way in which it helps protect the innate dignity of every man and woman, the Holy Father explained.
This, however, does not take away the duty of States to protect their citizens.
In fact, the Pope said that, “Every State has the primary duty to protect its own population from grave and sustained violations of human rights, as well as from the consequences of humanitarian crises, whether natural or man-made.”
Only when “States are unable to guarantee such protection,” should the international community intervene, said the Pope.