Vienna: At the 50th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) held in Vienna on Thursday, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, delivered a compelling appeal for renewed global commitment to peace, conflict prevention, and protection of fundamental human rights. Addressing OSCE Chairperson and Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, Archbishop Gallagher called on member states to revive the cooperative spirit of the Helsinki Final Act, signed five decades ago as a cornerstone for dialogue, security, and international trust.
With 57 member states spanning Europe, Central Asia, and North America, the OSCE remains the world’s largest regional security body. Gallagher reminded delegates that its strength lies in open communication, shared responsibility, and a consistent dedication to peace even when diplomatic progress seems distant.
The Archbishop voiced deep concern over escalating geopolitical tensions and unresolved conflicts, most notably the ongoing war in Ukraine. He urged all parties regional actors and global stakeholders alike to re-engage in sincere dialogue, cease hostilities, and work toward a settlement grounded in justice and long-term stability. Gallagher echoed Pope Leo XIV’s recent appeals during visits to Turkey and Lebanon, stressing that dialogue is not an admission of weakness but a courageous and necessary step toward reconciliation. Peace, he insisted, cannot emerge without persistent commitment to conversation, mutual respect, and genuine diplomacy.
Archbishop Gallagher also raised the alarm over increasing intolerance and discrimination based on religion an issue affecting Jews, Christians, Muslims, and members of other faith communities throughout the OSCE region. He welcomed recent OSCE initiatives aimed at combatting hate crimes against Christians but cautioned that efforts must remain balanced and universal. Freedom of religion or belief, he reminded delegates, is the only fundamental right explicitly enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act, and therefore demands unwavering protection. Tolerance alone, he said, does not equate to true freedom; societies must actively safeguard the full expression of belief and conscience.
Turning to global migration challenges, Gallagher emphasized the responsibility of states to ensure the dignity and rights of migrants, refugees, and displaced persons. Each individual, he noted, deserves safety, respect, and the possibility of meaningful integration. The Archbishop commended OSCE efforts to combat human trafficking particularly exploitation targeting women and children but warned that trafficking networks remain persistent and adaptive. He reiterated the Holy See’s call for coordinated international action to eliminate all practices that enable exploitation, including surrogate motherhood arrangements that can lead to abuse of vulnerable women.
Archbishop Gallagher concluded his address by urging the OSCE to reclaim the moral and diplomatic energy that inspired the Helsinki process 50 years ago. In an era marked by division, conflict, and humanitarian crises, he said, member states must invest once again in cooperation, constructive dialogue, and the defense of human dignity values that lie at the heart of both the OSCE and the Church’s vision for global peace.