Activities of Secretary-General in Italy, 26-28 April
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, accompanied by Madam Ban Soon-taek, departed New York on Sunday, 26 April. They arrived in Rome at midday the following day.
On Monday afternoon, the Secretary-General flew by Government plane and military helicopter via Sigonella Air Base in Sicily to visit the San Giusto, a landing helicopter dock ship of the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean. He was accompanied by Matteo Renzi, Prime Minister of Italy, and Federica Mogherini, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. He discussed with them his concerns about the situation of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea and emphasized the need for all authorities to focus on saving the lives of those who are at sea. (See Press Release SG/SM/16705.)
On board the ship, the Secretary-General was briefed by Italian Navy Rear Admiral Pierpaolo Ribuffo on the operation “Mare Sicuro” and the impact of migration, and he saw first-hand Italian naval operations to protect people on the high seas.
That evening, upon returning to Rome, the Secretary-General and his wife dined with Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden.
Early on Tuesday morning, the Secretary-General placed a condolence call to Sushil Koirala, Prime Minister of Nepal, following the devastating earthquake that struck that country on 25 April.
The Secretary-General then had an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican. During their extensive meeting, they had a long discussion on climate change. The Secretary-General told the Pontiff that he very much looked forward to the Pope’s encyclical on the subject, which would act as a moral voice on the issue. They also talked about the crisis in the Mediterranean, and the Secretary-General shared his impression of his visit the previous day to an Italian Navy vessel involved in search and rescue operations as part of operation Mare Sicuro.
The Secretary-General delivered the opening remarks at the Vatican at a symposium on climate change organized by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. It brought together faith leaders, civil society representatives and political leaders, including the Presidents of Italy and Ecuador. He told the participants at the workshop, called “Protect the Earth, Dignify Humanity”, that mitigating climate change and adapting to its effects are necessary to eradicate extreme poverty, reduce inequality and secure equitable, sustainable economic development. (See Press Release SG/SM/16710.)
He stressed to the gathered delegates that climate change is an issue of social justice, human rights and fundamental ethics. Ban underscored that the world’s faith groups are clear on this issue — and in harmony with science. He told the audience that “science and religion are not at odds on climate change; indeed, they are fully aligned”.
On the sidelines of the symposium, the Secretary-General also met with the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella. Their talks focused mainly on the issue of migration. The Secretary-General reiterated that there was a collective moral responsibility to deal with the current crisis and it could not be left to just a few countries to handle.
Prior to departure to France, the Secretary-General spoke to reporters at a press conference at the Vatican. He said that in dealing with the migration crisis in the Mediterranean, the international community needs to address the root causes of migration and find ways to share responsibility for resettling those who make the perilous journey. Collective action, he added, is the only approach that can work for a problem of such a large and transnational nature.
That same afternoon, he travelled to Paris.