By the end of the month, two new flags will be flying outside the United Nations headquarters in New York – the Palestinian flag and that of the Holy See, the central government of the Roman Catholic Church.The Palestinians are hailing the move. The Holy See, less so.Last week, 119 countries voted "yes" to a General Assembly resolution allowing the flags of non-member observer states to fly alongside those of the 193 full member nations, while eight countries — including the U.S., Israel, Australia and Canada — voted "no." (Forty-five countries abstained.)Canada among small group of countries to oppose Palestinian flag at UNTight security, a raffle and a 'motorized cart': The UN prepares for Pope's visitSeeing it as a symbolic step toward eventual statehood recognition, the Palestinians are applauding the adoption of the resolution as a "historic vote."The Holy See, on the other hand, did not co-sponsor the draft text, and in an internal memo sent to various UN missions, asked that all references to the Holy See be removed from the original draft.http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/holy-see-agrees-to-fly-flag-at-un-in-time-for-pope-s-visit-1.3232065
_________________Colin Murray