WHAT DOES HOLY SEE PRIVILEGE AT THE UN MEAN?
Taken together, the above factors have enabled the Holy See to exercise a presence equal to that of any member stateincluding some power to block consensusat recent conferences such as the 1992 Conference on the Environment and Development, in Rio de Janeiro; the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, in Cairo; the 1995 World Summit for Social Development, in Copenhagen; and the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, in Beijing. THE HOLY SEE – RELIGIOUS, NOT POLITICAL The Holy See claims to speak for the Roman Catholic church. As described by church officials, the Vaticans role at the UN is unique: “As a full member of the international community, the Holy See finds itself in a very particular situation, because it is spiritual in nature. Its authoritywhich is religious and not politicalextends over one billion persons scattered throughout the world and belonging to the most diverse ethnic groups and geographic regions. Its strength . . . consists in the respect t
