Statement by H.E. Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Apostolic Nuncio
and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other
International Organizations in Geneva, at the
63rd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council
Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the enjoyment
of all human rights by older persons
Geneva, 9 September 2026
Mr. President,
My Delegation takes note of the Independent Expert’s report on cognitive impairment and the continuing exercise of human rights by older persons[1]. The report draws attention to a serious risk, namely that when cognitive capacities are impaired, the person may increasingly be spoken for rather than listened to,[2] as though diminished capacity meant diminished personhood.
“[T]he fundamental dignity of each person […] is neither acquired nor earned, nor does it need to be justified”[3] by capacity. A person is not defined by his or her consciousness, intellect, or abilities. These qualities may weaken or even disappear, but the person’s dignity does not fade with them.[4] This inherent dignity is recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the foundation of equal and inalienable rights.[5]
The recognition of such dignity takes place above all within the family and the community, where every person is heard and supported. When older people suffering from cognitive impairment are able to live in such settings, they are not regarded as a burden to set aside but are instead considered valuable members of society. Dignity is God-given. Dependence and frailty do not negate or obscure such dignity; rather, they are a manifestation of the human condition.
Pope Leo XIV has reminded us that “the measure of our humanity is not given by what we can achieve, but by our ability to let ourselves be loved and, when necessary, even helped.”[6] Consequently, older persons living with cognitive impairment continue to hold and exercise their rights, often through supported and relational forms. It is precisely for this reason that the response should not be substitution, but dialogue, understanding, and accompaniment. This will enable them to remain active members of society, able both to receive and contribute.
Thank you, Mr. President.
[1]Cf. A/HRC/63/35.
[2]Ibidem, n. 2.
[3]Pope Leo XIV, Encyclical Letter Magnifica Humanitas, n. 53.
[4]Cf. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, n. 131.
[5]Cf. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, Preamble.
[6]Pope Leo XIV, Address to Participants in the Meeting on the Pastoral Care of the Elderly, 3 October 2025.