{"id":272242,"date":"2023-09-05T08:19:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-05T12:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/78\/?p=272242"},"modified":"2023-09-06T11:20:25","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T15:20:25","slug":"the-38th-annual-international-prayer-breakfast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/78\/2023\/09\/05\/the-38th-annual-international-prayer-breakfast\/","title":{"rendered":"PGA-Elect remarks: The 38th Annual International Prayer Breakfast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-21px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”7px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>The 38th Annual International Prayer Breakfast<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tuesday, 5 September 2023, 8 a.m, Delegates Dining Room, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵHQ\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

* ***** *\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres,<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Friends,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Good morning to you all.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let me begin by extending my heartfelt thanks to Ambassador Menissa Rambally of Saint Lucia, as well as the members of the 2023 Host Committee, for organizing the 38<\/span>th<\/span> annual International Prayer Breakfast.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Let me also express my gratitude to the Christian Embassy and Foreign Service Fellowship International for bringing us together in the spirit of unity and cross-cultural cooperation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is an honour to join you for this annual tradition.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Friends,<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year, we gather again in extraordinary times.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Intertwining challenges \u2013 from climate and conflict to poverty and fragility \u2013 continue to bear down across the globe, making peace more elusive and development more difficult.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

War continues to rage, deepening geopolitical tensions and sowing fresh seeds of mistrust.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The widening gulf between want and plenty is raising new questions for how we, as a global community, will fulfil our 2030 Agenda and its transformational pledge to leave no one behind.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

__<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The challenges to overcome are indeed enormous.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, I remain hopeful and confident in the unique strength of the General Assembly and the resilience brought about by the United Nations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over nearly eight decades, our Organisation has catalysed decolonisation, promoted human rights for all, shaped the norms of international legal order, fostered development and worked tirelessly to eradicate disease.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While we celebrate these successes, we have the humility and grace to acknowledge that we certainly have not done this alone, nor have we achieved all our goals.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We must continue to push forth, as one people, one United Nations, one planet.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Colleagues,<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On our journey, faith communities have been consistent and crucial partners.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the frontlines, they have inspired public action on the major issues of our day \u2013 from health and education to disarmament and disaster risk reduction.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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By encouraging compassion and respect, they have helped to diffuse virulent hatred, racism, xenophobia and discrimination.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And they have helped make the work of the United Nations relevant for our planet\u2019s eight billion, very diverse, constituents.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

__<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As I begin today, as President of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly, I pledge to listen intently, act with transparency and work relentless towards our shared goals of <\/span>peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With your help, I hope to bring forward a renewed spirit of cooperation and shared commitment to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In turn, I ask for your partnership.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I ask for your courage in moving our collective ambition off the page and into the world.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Years ago, Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott, a poet of the Caribbean, spoke of \u201cthe astonishment of the soul.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As we open the General Assembly 78<\/span>th<\/span> session today, let us be alive to what this means.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let us allow our souls to be astonished<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n