AVSI at the United States Congress on Vatican diplomacy

On Monday, April 13, AVSI was invited to a briefing held on Capitol Hill by the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) on the topic of Vatican diplomacy in a global context marked by conflict and tension.

Jacqueline Aldrette, AVSI Deputy Secretary General for U.S. Relations, based in Washington, DC, spoke on behalf of AVSI. Aldrette presented AVSI’s more than fifty years of experience as a civil society organization active in 41 countries worldwide. Throughout its work, AVSI has maintained an ongoing dialogue with the network of Vatican diplomacy, including apostolic nuncios and local Churches in the countries where it operates, in order to jointly develop initiatives that respond to the genuine needs of the most vulnerable populations.

Among its many projects, Aldrette highlighted the emblematic case of “Open Hospitals” in Syria, launched in 2017 and supported in subsequent years by the Apostolic Nuncio in Damascus, Cardinal Mario Zenari. The initiative was designed to ensure access to healthcare for the poorest Syrians—both Christians and Muslims—in a context deeply scarred by war, and was entrusted to AVSI for its implementation. The project has treated more than 150,000 people, helped keep at-risk hospitals open, restored hope to individuals exhausted by conflict and poverty, and contributed to rebuilding a fragmented social fabric.

This is a concrete example that sheds light—according to AVSI—on some distinctive features of the Holy See’s action worldwide: a presence attentive to the most vulnerable in order to meet their needs even in crisis and emergency areas, in the most remote and often overlooked places; the promotion of an integral vision of the human person, who needs not only food and shelter, but also work, peace, rights, and freedom; and an openness and welcoming attitude toward all, regardless of religious affiliation, along with a willingness to engage in dialogue with everyone.

More information and the stream of the event here