A leading Vatican diplomat condemned racism, xenophobia, and anti-religious intolerance.
Addressing a UN committee meeting, Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, said that “at the heart of the Church’s teaching lies the conviction that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore possesses equal and inviolable dignity.”
“Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance constitute a direct affront to that dignity and to the unity of the human family,” he continued. “Against this backdrop, there is a need to strengthen efforts to cultivate and promote respect for the inalienable dignity of every human person and to foster a culture of encounter and openness to others, in mutual respect.”