Vatican City: The Holy See has reiterated its unwavering solidarity with the people of Haiti, particularly those affected by the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, while emphasizing the urgent need for global action to ensure peace, stability, and the protection of the environment.
Speaking at two sessions of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), Monsignor Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano, the Vatican’s Permanent Observer, conveyed the Holy See’s deep concern for Haiti’s ongoing humanitarian and social crises. He urged the international community to adopt a renewed and committed approach to supporting the Caribbean nation, which continues to grapple with insecurity, extreme poverty, and violence.
During the presentation of the Secretary General’s progress report on the “Roadmap for Stability and Peace,” a strategic initiative led by Haiti with regional and international support, Monsignor Cruz Serrano highlighted the importance of addressing the country’s urgent realities. He described the roadmap as “an instrument that places at the centre of discussion the pressing and dramatic reality of Haiti,” and stressed the escalating impact of climate change, particularly in light of Hurricane Melissa’s destruction.
Quoting Pope Leo XIV’s recent address to the Food and Agriculture Organization on World Food Day, the Vatican official reminded nations of their shared moral obligation: “The hungry faces of so many who still suffer challenge us and invite us to reexamine our lifestyles, our priorities, and our overall way of living in today’s world… The international community cannot look the other way. We must make their suffering our own.”
Monsignor Cruz Serrano also acknowledged the OAS Secretariat’s ongoing efforts, in line with mandates from the 55th General Assembly, and affirmed the Holy See’s continued support for all initiatives aimed at promoting peace, security, and resilience in Haiti.
In a separate intervention focused on the hurricane’s widespread impact across the Caribbean, the Vatican diplomat expressed “the sorrow, prayer, and spiritual closeness of Pope Leo XIV” to the governments and peoples of Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and the Bahamas.
The storm has inflicted severe flooding, displaced thousands, caused fatalities, and damaged homes, schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure. Monsignor Cruz Serrano highlighted the Church’s active role in relief efforts through local communities and organizations such as Caritas and Catholic Relief Services, noting their commitment to supporting affected populations during these turbulent times.
He further underscored the need for ecological responsibility, stressing that “caring for nature requires concrete actions and, above all, significant national and international political decisions.”
Concluding his remarks, Monsignor Cruz Serrano praised the work of regional and international organizations, including the OAS, for raising awareness among governments and civil society about environmental abuses. He reinforced that “protecting creation is a duty that cannot be delegated and must be upheld by all nations and communities,” reminding the international community that the stewardship of the environment is a shared responsibility.
The Holy See’s interventions at the OAS serve as a clarion call for collective action both humanitarian and ecological reinforcing the Church’s longstanding commitment to justice, peace, and the protection of the natural world.