Archbishop Gallagher calls for renewed commitment to peace

Vatican News

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, on Thursday addressed the OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna, marking the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act.

With its 57 States from Europe, Central Asia and America, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world’s largest regional security organization.

Speaking to Finnish Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson Elina Valtonen, he called for a renewed and creative commitment to the organization’s core mandate of preventing and resolving conflicts. He encouraged the OSCE to recover the “Helsinki spirit” of openness, dialogue and shared responsibility among its 57 participating States.

Concern for Ukrainian conflict

Gallagher noted deepening divisions, diminished trust and renewed conflicts in Europe. He expressed particular concern for the war in Ukraine and urged all parties to resume genuine dialogue, halt hostilities, and work toward a just and lasting peace. He recalled Pope Leo XIV’s recent appeals in Turkey and Lebanon for dialogue pursued with determination, highlighting the fact that dialogue is not weakness but a necessary path to reconciliation and lasting stability.

Freedom of religion and rising intolerance

The archbishop highlighted the rise of intolerance and discrimination based on religion across the OSCE region, including increasing antisemitism and incidents affecting Christians, Muslims and members of other religions. He welcomed OSCE guidance on combating hate crimes against Christians and called for even-handed approaches to all forms of intolerance. He also noted that freedom of religion or belief is the only fundamental freedom explicitly affirmed in the Helsinki Final Act, adding that tolerance alone does not constitute genuine freedom.

Migration, human trafficking and human dignity

On migration, Gallagher stressed the need to safeguard the dignity of migrants, refugees and displaced persons, underscoring that each person deserves protection and meaningful opportunities for integration. He praised OSCE efforts against human trafficking, especially the exploitation of women and children. He reiterated the Holy See’s call for the eradication of practices linked to trafficking, including surrogate motherhood, through coordinated national and international action.