VATICAN - "VIEWS FROM THE HILL"

UNCLAS VATICAN 001907 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE),EUR/SE, EUR/SCE, EUR/PD/PA, DRL/IRF FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 55/01 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM SR CY VT SUBJECT: VATICAN - "VIEWS FROM THE HILL" ¶1. THE MARCH 31 - APRIL 06 EDITION OF NEWS AND VIEWS FROM VATICAN CITY. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 VATICA 01907 071610Z CONTENTS: - NEW BELGRADE BISHOP WELCOMES MILOSEVIC ARREST - POPE WILL NOT STOP IN CYPRUS DURING MAY TRAVEL - NO CHANGES TO POPE'S EASTER WEEK SCHEDULE -------------- -------------- ARCHBISHOP SAYS MILOSEVIC ARREST IS A "SIGN FOR FUTURE" -------------- -------------- ¶2. IN AN APRIL 4 INTERVIEW WITH VATICAN NEWS AGENCY "FIDES," BELGRADE'S NEW ARCHBISHOP, STANISLAV HOCEVAR, DEEMED THE ARREST OF FORMER PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC "A SIGN OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE" AND THAT "YUGOSLAVIA IS ON THE RIGHT PATH." THE 55 YEAR-OLD HOCEVAR HAS BEEN ARCHBISHOP "IN WAITING" FOR THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND ASSUMED FULL CONTROL FOR THE CHURCH IN THE YUGOSLAV CAPITAL WHEN THE POPE ACCEPTED ARCHBISHOP FRANC PERKO'S RESIGNATION FOR HEALTH REASONS ON MARCH 31. SPEAKING TO "FIDES" HOCEVAR SAID MILOSEVIC'S ARREST AND THE FUTURE IDENTIFICATION AND TRIAL OF GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR WAR CRIMES IN THE BALKANS ARE ONLY PART OF THE PROCESS OF RECOVERY. -------------- NO PAPAL TRIP TO CYPRUS FOR NOW -------------- ¶3. VATICAN SPOKESMAN, JOAQUIN NAVARRO-VALLS, ANNOUNCED APRIL 3 THAT POPE JOHN PAUL II WILL NOT STOP IN CYPRUS DURING HIS UP-COMING TRAVEL TO GREECE, SYRIA AND MALTA. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 VATICA 01907 071610Z NAVARRO-VALLS SAID THE POPE HAD RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO VISIT FROM THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT. VATICAN WATCHER THEN SPECULATED THE POPE COULD MAKE A BRIEF STOP ENROUTE TO GREECE. WHILE THE PONTIFF HOPES TO ACCEPT THE OFFER "ONE DAY," NAVARRO-VALLS SAID IT WAS A "TECHNICAL IMPOSSIBILITY" TO INCLUDE A STOP ON THE ISLAND AS PART OF THE POPE'S MAY 04 - 09 TRAVEL ITINERARY. -------------- FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR EASTER -------------- ¶4. THE VATICAN ANNOUNCED APRIL 4 THAT THE INCREASINGLY FRAIL POPE JOHN PAUL II WILL PRESIDE OVER ALL OF THE VATICAN CITY EASTER WEEK EVENTS. THE EASTER LITURGICAL CEREMONIES ARE THE MOST DEMANDING IN THE VATICAN'S OFFICIAL CALENDAR. THE 80 YEAR-OLD PONTIFF HAS RESUMED HIS REGULAR SCHEDULE AFTER THE RIGORS OF THE 2000 HOLY YEAR, INCLUDING MEETINGS WITH GROUPS OF BISHOPS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND VISITS TO ROMAN PARISHES. (NOTE: THE EASTER WEEK EVENTS ARE OFFICIAL VATICAN CEREMONIES THAT THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS IS EXPECTED TO ATTEND. END NOTE). THE POPE IS EXPECTED TO TAKE SOME TIME OFF AFTER EASTER AT HIS RESIDENCE IN THE HILLS OUTSIDE OF ROME. MERANTE UNCLASSIFIED > 2001VATICA01907 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED