Cablegate: Vatican Verbatim

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 002955

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE), EUR/PD/PA, DRL/IRF, WHA/CEN,
NEA/IAI, EUR/WST, EUR/RUS, EUR/CACEN, EUR/SCE,

ROME FOR FODAG

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 79/01

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM EAGR IS AM KZ BU UP GT PHUM EAGR IS AM KZ BU UP GT MEPP RU
SUBJECT: VATICAN VERBATIM

1. THE MAY 26 - JUNE 01 EDITION OF NEWS AND VIEWS FROM
VATICAN CITY.

CONTENTS:

- POPE SENDS ENVOYS TO ISRAEL AND PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
- CONSISTORY: OUTREACH TO THE ORTHODOX?
- VATICAN CALLS NUTRITION AN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHT
- POPE'S UKRAINE TRIP NOT A THREAT SAYS VATICAN FM
- POPE WANTS JUSTICE IN GUATEMALA
- PAPAL TRAVEL UPDATE

--------------------------------------------- --
PAPAL ENVOYS HEAD TO JERUSALEM ON PEACE MISSION
--------------------------------------------- --

2. (SBU) POPE JOHN PAUL II SENT VETERAN VATICAN DIPLOMAT
CARDINAL PIO LAGHI TO JERUSALEM MAY 30. THE FOREIGN
MINISTRY'S MIDDLE EAST DESK OFFICER, MONSIGNOR GIOVANNI
D'ANIELLO, ACCOMPANIED LAGHI. IN AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT THE
VATICAN ANNOUNCED THAT THE ENVOYS WERE TO MEET WITH ISRAELI
PM SHARON AND PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT ARAFAT AND
THAT THEY WOULD PRESENT THE TWO LEADERS WITH A PERSONAL
LETTER FROM THE POPE CALLING FOR A CEASE-FIRE AND RENEWED
DIALOGUE. (NOTE: CARDINAL LAGHI IS IN SEMI-RETIREMENT IN
VATICAN CITY. HE PREVIOUSLY REPRESENTED THE VATICAN IN
ISRAEL, ARGENTINA AND WAS THE FIRST NUNCIO TO THE US BEFORE
TAKING UP A VATICAN CABINET POST. HE HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF
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PAGE 03 VATICA 02955 01 OF 02 012330Z
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE PALESTINIANS, INCLUDING
BETHLEHEM UNIVERSITY. DURING HIS DIPLOMATIC SERVICE IN
ISRAEL HE WAS FRIENDLY WITH KEY FIGURES INCLUDING GOLDA MEIR
AND MOSHE DAYAN. END NOTE).

--------------------------------------------- --------------
ON THE SIDELINES OF THE CONSISTORY: RELATIONS WITH ORTHODOX
--------------------------------------------- --------------

3. (SBU) TWO EASTERN RITE CARDINALS COMMENTED THAT THEIR
CHURCHES SHOULD ACT AS MEDIATORS FOR ANY RAPPROCHEMENT WITH
THE ORTHODOX CHURCH. VATICAN OFFICIAL CARDINAL IGNACE MOUSSA
I DAOUD AND UKRAINE'S CARDINAL LUBOMYR HUSAR OPINED THAT
THEIR EASTERN RITE CATHOLIC CHURCHES COULD HELP THE ORTHODOX
UNDERSTAND THE WEST AND VISA VERSA. (COMMENT: THE CANON LAW
FOR EASTERN CHURCHES INSISTS ON THE PRIMACY OF PAPAL
AUTHORITY IN ALL MATTERS OF DOCTRINE, DISCIPLINE AND
GOVERNANCE. UNLESS ROME DOES AN ABOUT FACE, IT IS DIFFICULT
TO IMAGINE THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES MOVING CLOSER TOWARDS
RESOLVING THEIR MISTRUST OF REAL OR IMAGINED INTENTIONS OF
ROMAN CATHOLICISM. DAOUD AND HUSAR'S OPTIMISM MAY HAVE BEEN
MORE A PR EXERCISE AHEAD OF THE PAPAL VISIT TO UKRAINE THAN
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE REAL STATE OF RELATIONS WITH THE
ORTHODOX. END COMMENT).

--------------------------------------
NUTRITION AN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHT
--------------------------------------

4. (U) THE VATICAN DELEGATE AT A UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
ORGANIZATION MEETING HAS ARGUED THAT "THE RIGHT TO NUTRITION
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PAGE 04 VATICA 02955 01 OF 02 012330Z
IS FULLY AN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHT." ARCHBISHOP AGOSTINO
MARCHETTO, PERMANENT OBSERVER TO FAO, WENT ON TO SAY THAT
THE LACK OF SECURE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE FOOD IS ONE OF THE
MOST SEVERE LIMITATIONS ON HUMAN FREEDOM AND THE DEVELOPMENT
OF COMMUNITIES. THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THE HOLY SEE IS
"PROFOUNDLY DISAPPOINTED" BY LACK OF PROGRESS SINCE THE 1996
WORLD FOOD SUMMIT. HE REGRETTED THAT WORLD LEADERS AND
DEVELOPED NATIONS HAD NOT TAKEN STEPS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE
FOOD SUPPLIES FOR NEEDY PEOPLE. DURING A TIME OF
"UNPRECEDENTED PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT," HE SAID, IT IS A
SCANDAL THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE REMAIN HUNGRY. HE REMINDED
MEETING PARTICIPANTS OF THE CORE OBLIGATIONS IN REGARD TO
FOOD SECURITY - TO ENSURE ACCESS TO THE MINIMUM ESSENTIAL
FOOD WHICH IS NUTRITIONALLY ADEQUATE AND SAFE, TO ENSURE
FREEDOM FROM HUNGER FOR EVERYONE.

--------------------------------------------- -----------
FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS PAPAL TRIP TO UKRAINE NOT A THREAT
--------------------------------------------- -----------

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ4911

PAGE 01 VATICA 02955 02 OF 02 012331Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00
DS-00 EB-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 L-00 AC-01 NEA-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02
OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00
SS-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00
PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /008W
------------------F38BEE 012331Z /75
R 011443Z JUN 01
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
AMEMBASSY ALMATY

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 002955

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE), EUR/PD/PA, DRL/IRF, WHA/CEN,
NEA/IAI, EUR/WST, EUR/RUS, EUR/CACEN, EUR/SCE,

ROME FOR FODAG

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 79/01

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM EAGR IS AM KZ BU UP GT PHUM EAGR IS AM KZ BU UP GT MEPP RU
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 VATICA 02955 02 OF 02 012331Z

SUBJECT: VATICAN VERBATIM

5. (U) VATICAN FM JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN DEFENDED THE JUNE 23-
27 PAPAL VISIT TO UKRAINE AS A "PILGRIMAGE" THAT SHOULD NOT
ALARM THEN RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH. IN A PRESS CONFERENCE
MARKING THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RUSSIA, ARCHBISHOP TAURAN SAID THAT THE
80 MILLION MEMBERS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THAT COUNTRY
SHOULD NOT FEEL THREATENED BY A MERE 50,000 CATHOLICS.
TAURAN SAID THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RUSSIA WAS NOT IN THE
BUSINESS OF PROSELYTISM OR PROPAGANDA. (NOTE: RUSSIAN
POLITICIANS AND ORTHODOX CHURCH LEADERS ARE SPEAKING OUT
WITH INCREASING REGULARITY AGAINST THE PAPAL VISIT TO
NEIGHBORING UKRAINE. OPPONENTS SUSPECT THE UKRAINE TRIP IS A
VATICAN PLAN TO EXPAND CATHOLIC INFLUENCE IN TERRITORY WHICH
THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH CONSIDERS ITS EXCLUSIVE DOMAIN.
END NOTE). TAURAN TRIED TO ALLAY THE FEARS, DESCRIBING THE
VISITS AS "A RELIGIOUS EVENT AND A PILGRIMAGE." HE SAID IT
IS EXACTLY WHAT THE POPE WOULD LIKE TO DO IN RUSSIA.
HOWEVER, THE MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE HAS ALREADY DECLARED THAT
RELATIONS WITH ROME WILL WORSEN IF THE POPE MEETS WITH
UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX LEADERS WHOM THE PATRIARCHATE CONSIDERS
TO BE IN SCHISM. SOME OF THOSE LEADERS BELONG TO UKRAINE'S
COUNCIL OF CHURCHES AND ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN AN
ECUMENICAL MEETING WITH JOHN PAUL II.

-------------------------------
POPE WANTS JUSTICE IN GUATEMALA
-------------------------------

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 VATICA 02955 02 OF 02 012331Z
6. (U) POPE JOHN PAUL II WANTS SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE
RESOLUTION OF THE "EXECRABLE CRIMES" OF THE PAST IN
GUATEMALA. HE WAS SPEAKING TO A GROUP OF GUATEMALAN BISHOP
MAKING THEIR FIVE YEARLY BRIEFING VISIT TO VATICAN CITY. THE
POPE SAID GUATEMALA "HAS WITNESSED THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD OF
TOO MANY CHILDREN." HE ADDED IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REVIVE THE
MEMORY OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE COUNTRY'S CIVIL
WAR. IN HIS RESPONSE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE GUATEMALAN
BISHOPS CONFERENCE, ARCHBISHOP VICTOR HUGO MARTINEZ
CONTERARAS OF LOS ALTOS QUETZALTENANGO-TOTONICAPAN, SAID HIS
COUNTRY'S SOCIETY WAS TROUBLED BY "VIOLENCE, ORGANIZED
CRIME, DRUG TRAFFIC AND CORRUPTION." AFTER 36 YEARS OF CIVIL
WAR, HE ADDED, "THE PEOPLE OF GUATEMALA HAVE LOST ALL
CONFIDENCE IN POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT." HE SAID THAT IN ORDER
TO REGAIN THE PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE THE GOVERNMENT MUST CALL
TO ACCOUNT THE PERPETRATORS OF CRIMINAL VIOLENCE AND
SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THE MURDER OF BISHOP JUAN GERARDI.

--------------------------------------------- ------
PAPAL TRAVEL UPDATE - ARMENIA, KAZAKHSTAN, BULGARIA
--------------------------------------------- ------

7. (U) THE VATICAN ANNOUNCED MAY 31 THAT POPE JOHN PAUL II
WILL TRAVEL TO ARMENIA AND KAZAKHSTAN IN SEPTEMBER, HIS
FIRST TRIP TO EITHER COUNTRY. THE VISIT TO ARMENIA HAS BEEN
LONG EXPECTED AND WILL FEATURE THE POPE'S PRESENCE AT EVENTS
MARKING 1700 YEARS OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE COUNTRY. THE
VATICAN ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH KAZAKHSTAN IN
1992. THE POPE IS EXPECTED TO SPEND TWO DAYS IN EACH
COUNTRY, WITH APPEARANCE LIMITED TO THE CAPITAL CITIES. POPE
JOHN PAUL ALSO PLANS TO VISIT BULGARIA IN THE SPRING OF
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PAGE 04 VATICA 02955 02 OF 02 012331Z
2002. THE TRIP TO BULGARIA WOULD BE THE FIRST FOR A MODERN
POPE AND ANOTHER IN A SERIES OF PAPAL VISITS TO EAST
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WITH PREDOMINANTLY ORTHODOX POPULATIONS.
LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF BULGARIANS ARE CATHOLICS. MERANTE

UNCLASSIFIED

>

2001VATICA02955 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

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