NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS SEMINAR ON POPE JOHN PAUL II'S ADDRESS TO UNITED NATIONS TO BE HELD AT HEADQUARTERS, 8 MAY

Press Release

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS SEMINAR ON POPE JOHN PAUL II'S ADDRESS TO UNITED NATIONS TO BE HELD AT HEADQUARTERS, 8 MAY

A high-level seminar entitled "The United Nations: A Family of Nations? A Seminar on the Address of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to the United Nations Organization" will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, 8 May, in the Economic and Social Council Chamber.

Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali will open the seminar, with the participation of the President of the General Assembly, Diogo Freitas do Amaral, and the Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, who will deliver the keynote address. The seminar will be chaired by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations, Francesco Paolo Fulci.

Following the opening addresses, six internationally known personalities will present their thoughts on the Papal address, which is directed towards the importance of the United Nations and the rights of nations. The participants will be: Prince Hans-Adam II, Reigning Prince of the Principality of Liechtenstein; John Cardinal O'Connor, Archbishop of New York; Algirdas Saudargas, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania; Alvaro de Soto, Assistant Secretary-General, Department of Political Affairs; Maurice Glele, Member Constitutional Court of Benin; and Mary Ann Glendon, Professor of Law at Harvard University.

In his historic address to the General Assembly five months ago, Pope John Paul II affirmed the importance of the United Nations Organization. The seminar is intended to expound on that message and meaning and has been organized as a response to numerous requests from many who, having been inspired by his words, seek avenues of further dialogue as the United Nations begins to chart a course for the next 50 years.

Representatives of the media are cordially invited to attend.

* *** *