Holy See: People with Down syndrome have same sacred value

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"Persons with Down syndrome are more than a diagnosis, more than a condition, and certainly more than the limits others may imagine. All of them, like all of us, possess the same inherent dignity and sacred value, intentionally and lovingly imprinted by the Creator from the very first moment of conception."

Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, gave this reminder on Thursday at a side event of the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation for World Down Syndrome Day 2026.

The theme for this year's Day, which takes place Saturday, 21 March, is "From Loneliness to Inclusion: Valuing Human Genetic Diversity to Enable the Effective Realization of Rights for Persons with Down Syndrome."

Full members of communities with same fundamental rights

In his remarks, Archbishop Balestrero stressed that persons with Down syndrome, "like everyone else, hold the same fundamental rights."

Accordingly, he explained, inclusion is not "merely a matter of providing services or accommodations," but a matter of "recognizing persons with Down syndrome as full members of our communities."

Must firmly reject practices targeting diagnosed babies

The Apostolic Nuncio called on the event participants and organizers to be encouraged to "reaffirm our unwavering efforts to promote and defend the inherent dignity, fundamental rights, and transcendent value of all persons at every stage of life," as he renewed an impassioned appeal.

"Discriminatory and eugenic practices linked to prenatal screening and the selective termination of pregnancies targeting babies diagnosed with Down syndrome," he said, "must be firmly rejected."

Archbishop Balestrero also acknowledged and thanked the many professionals and institutions around the world that are committed to the continuing care for persons with Down syndrome and their families. 

Quality of life dependent on love

With this sentiment, the Archbishop reaffirmed the importance of love, humanity and heartfelt concern.

"A system of care and support may be operationally perfect, but if it is heartless, it becomes cold and impersonal," he said, recalling when Pope Leo XIV reminded that the quality of human life is not dependent on achievements, but on love.

Stressing that the value of a person’s life should not be measured by utility or performance, but by the simple and profound fact of being human, the Permanent Observer concluded, "May our collective efforts continue to build a culture of life and humanity where every person with Down syndrome is recognized as unique and unrepeatable, and welcomed with equal dignity and respect."