Calling for Trust in One Another, Secretary-General Tells Annual Prayer Service ‘We Must Stay True’ to All Religions’ Common Values of Compassion, Respect

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the annual prayer service, held today:

I am pleased to greet the annual prayer service — a cherished moment of quiet reflection just before the hectic frenzy of the General Assembly.

This session will test us like few others before.  The crises we face are complex and many, the pressures immense, the perils grave.  From war and conflict, hate and discord, hunger and poverty to the nuclear threat and a burning planet.

To sail safely through the turbulent seas, we must stay true to the essential values common to all religions and central to the United Nations:  compassion, solidarity, respect for the human person, the Golden Rule “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

And as this important event reminds us, we need trust.  Trust in one another, and trust in humanity’s ability to come together in pursuit of common goals, leaving no one behind.  This trust inspired the founders of our United Nations, and it has sustained and guided our organization over 77 years.

I count on you to help instil hope and a sense of purpose, today and every day.  Thank you for inspiring the best in each of us to build a better world for all of us.