Our History
The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to UNESCO was established in 1952, following a gradual process of rapprochement with the Organization. As early as 1948, the Holy See had been officially invited to the Third General Conference, held in Beirut; the invitation was subsequently renewed for the following sessions.
The transition to permanent representation is documented in a letter dated 28 May 1952, in which Monsignor Giovanni Battista Montini, then Substitute of the Secretariat of State, informed the Director-General of UNESCO of Pope Pius XII’s decision to appoint Monsignor Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, Apostolic Nuncio in France, as the first Permanent Observer. This document is remembered as the “letter of the three Popes”, since it bears the names of Pius XII and the future John XXIII and Paul VI.
Since then, relations between the Holy See and UNESCO have been maintained through the Permanent Mission. Since 1952, the Holy See has ratified 22 UNESCO legal instruments (Conventions, Protocols, and Agreements), has 2 sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, and has 1 UNESCO Chair.
The Mission’s Activities
The Permanent Observer Mission represents the Holy See to UNESCO and contributes to its work in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. It participates in international cooperation aimed at building peace, bringing the Holy See’s perspective to dialogue among peoples.
The Mission participates in the Organization’s debates and activities, including through the contribution of experts, and maintains an ongoing dialogue with the Secretariat and the Delegations. It promotes opportunities for exchange and follows the activities of Catholic international organizations, fostering their contribution to cooperation in education, science and culture.
