Vatican urges UN to combat homelessness

The Vatican has urged the United Nations (U.N.) to include the homeless in efforts to create sustainable cities, stating that the “persistence of homelessness should trouble the conscience of the international community.”

The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the U.N. made these remarks in a message for the 2026 High Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the New Urban Agenda , which took place in New York from July 16–17. The message also marked the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the New Urban Agenda at the U.N.

As reported by Vatican News on July 29, the Holy See stated that adequate housing is not merely a commodity but a fundamental part of a society committed to the common good.

“Everybody deserves a place to call home, where they can build relationships, nurture family life, and participate fully in their community,” the message wrote. “Housing should therefore be viewed not just as a commodity or financial asset, but as a cornerstone of society at the service of the common good.”

The Holy See also referenced Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas , emphasizing that “development is truly human when it places people at the…