People Long for Human Rights, Peace, Says Secretary-General in Address to Prayer Service

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the Church of the Holy Family, in New York today:

Thank you for this uplifting prayer service.  The Church of the Holy Family is a true friend of the United Nations.  We have mourned and rejoiced together many times over the years.

There is so much to grieve about now.

War is driving millions of people from their homes.  Violent extremists are killing in the name of religion.  They bring immense suffering to people — and great shame to the faiths they claim to represent.

This prayer service is an answer to the bigots, extremists and terrorists who try to divide communities.

Together, we pray side by side with respect for our common humanity.

This is a time of tragedy — but I still have hope.

In a few days, leaders will gather at the United Nations to set the world on course for a better future.

We will look back at the Millennium Development Goals — the most successful fight against poverty in history.

And we will adopt an even bolder vision:  Agenda 2030 — our plan to create a life of dignity for all people.

On the day that agenda is adopted, we are extremely fortunate that we will be graced by the presence of His Holiness Pope Francis.

He has called on people everywhere to work towards realizing the new sustainable development goals “with generosity and courage”.

Sustainable development goes hand in hand with climate action.

I was deeply grateful for the Papal Encyclical released in June calling climate change a moral issue — and one of the principal challenges facing humanity.

I also appreciate the Pope’s powerful calls for compassion in response to the refugees and migrants arriving in Europe.  He has been a moving advocate for a humane response.

I was deeply privileged to bring my top leaders of the UN system to a meeting with His Holiness at the Vatican in May last year.

We were all inspired by his commitment to peace, social justice and the environment.

His Holiness urged us to mobilize the world beyond all religious or political differences.  He called on us to spread solidarity, especially for the poorest and most excluded people.  I fully agree that this is the purpose of the United Nations, and I will do everything possible to answer this call.

All major faiths have a version of the admonition, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  This phrase was the inspiration for the famous painting by Norman Rockwell called The Golden Rule.

We have a mosaic replica on permanent display at the United Nations.  And this summer, we also hosted an exhibit of a work that Norman Rockwell had drawn almost 10 years before he created that masterpiece.  Barely anyone even knew about this drawing — but it contained elements that later became famous in The Golden Rule.

The sketch shows the members of the United Nations Security Council.  Behind them are people watching — young and old, from all around the world.  Some of them have their hands clasped as if in prayer.  Their eyes ask the leaders, “How will you help me, my family and our world?”

Today, this image is more resonant than ever.  People want justice, human rights and peace.

Norman Rockwell once said he viewed the United Nations as “our only hope”.

Let us join in prayer to give hope to the world.