Holy See urges UN to address homelessness as human‑dignity issue

The Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations released a message ahead of the 2026 High‑Level Meeting on the UN’s New Urban Agenda. The statement called on cities and nations to view housing not merely as a commodity but as a cornerstone of the common good, and to invest in affordable, adequate homes and integrated social services. It warned that homelessness deprives individuals of security, stability, privacy and a sense of belonging, undermining fundamental human rights.

The mission cited Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas to stress that development must place people at its centre. It urged that the New Urban Agenda – a global roadmap adopted in 2016 for inclusive, resilient urban development through 2036 – be implemented with solidarity, inclusion and care for those most in need, turning cities into places of encounter, fraternity and hope.