U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Mary Ann Glendon joined U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilizad as Pope Benedict XVI addressed representatives to the world body from 192 countries. Upon arrival, the Pope --accompanied by H.E. Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See's Permanent Observer to the United Nations -- met with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

In his April 18 speech to the U.N. General Assembly, the Pope underlined that human rights cannot be limited or rewritten on the basis of national interests or majority rule. He also stated that the role of religions is not to dictate government policy, but to help their members strive to find the truth about the dignity of all people even if their religious views are different.

By visiting the United Nations, Pope Benedict XVI continued a papal tradition: Pope John Paul II visited the United Nations twice, in 1979 and 1995, and Pope Paul VI did so in 1965.