Sometimes diplomacy looks like a carefully worded speech. Other times, it takes teamwork, out-of-the-box thinking, and excellent time management.
On 25 March, Football for the Goals Champion and former international footballer Mika?l Silvestre was received by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
During the audience, Silvestre introduced the Football for the Goals initiative, highlighting the unique power of football to promote sustainability, equality, and human rights. He presented the Pope with a signed jersey and an SDG football.
The photo-op was perfect. What you can¡¯t see is the behind?the?scenes teamwork that made that moment possible.
The audience was the result of careful coordination by the Football for the Goals Team in Department of Global Communications with Silvestre and Vatican representatives.
The SDG football presented to His Holiness is itself a product of the dedication and creativity of the and . From design to procurement, many hurdles had to be overcome to launch the UN¡¯s official SDG football.
Getting it to Rome on time also proved trickier than expected. Pouch service only went as far as Rome¡¯s airport and dates didn¡¯t align with the deadline.
With the clock ticking on Friday afternoon, a creative solution was needed - fast. Chief of UN Publications, Mary Glenn, took the matter (and the football) into her own hands and brought the box to DHL. The distribution team provided the labels and the specific customs paperwork to ensure accuracy.
The journey concluded when Mr. Silvestre went to the Rome DHL office to pay the customs fee.
Advancing UN values sometimes depends not just on ideas, but on a willingness to go the extra mile or stand in the extra line.
For colleagues inspired by the journey of this football, and UNHCR soccer balls (designed by winners of the second annual Youth with Refugees Art Contest) are available at the UN Bookshop, with all proceeds supporting the work of the Organization.
