The Vatican has proposed a reform of the United Nations. At the moment the UN is split into two sections: the Ordinary Section and the Security Council but the Vatican would like all members to be able to express themselves and take part in decision-making as well. Not all nations are currently present in the Security Council. The President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson said this at the press conference presentation of Days commemorating the 50th Anniversary of John XXIII's encyclical, “Pacem in Terris” being held between 2 and 4 October and the publication of the book“Il concetto della pace” (“The concept of peace”) by the Vatican Publishing House.

“We do not intend to force anyone, but to propose a reform that gives all members a voice and take part in the pursuit of the common good,” the cardinal added.  Addressing the issue of political institutions and global politics, Cardinal Turkson said: these “are indispensable in addressing global questions. “Already fifty years ago, for that matter, with clarity and clear foresight, Pacem in Terris noted the inadequacy of nation-states with respect to the realization of the universal common good.”

Cardinal Turkson concluded that in order to address these kinds of problems it is necessary “to begin with an examination of the theme of reform of the largest global institution: the United Nations”. This issue has been on the agenda for years seeing as though the debate surrounding Security Council reform started approximately twenty years ago.

Source: UCAN