Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01VATICAN3571
2001-07-06 13:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

VATICAN VERBATIM

Tags:  PREL PHUM ECON EAID TBIO SOCI KN VT VTPREL 
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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 003571 

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE),EUR/PD/PA, EAP/K, DRL/IRF

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 111/01

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PREL PHUM ECON EAID TBIO SOCI KN PHUM ECON EAID TBIO SOCI KN VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: VATICAN VERBATIM

REF: A) VATICAN 3027; B) VATICAN 3442; C) VATICAN 1244
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 VATICA 03571 01 OF 02 061256Z

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 003571

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE),EUR/PD/PA, EAP/K, DRL/IRF

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 111/01

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PREL PHUM ECON EAID TBIO SOCI KN PHUM ECON EAID TBIO SOCI KN VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: VATICAN VERBATIM

REF: A) VATICAN 3027; B) VATICAN 3442; C) VATICAN 1244
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 VATICA 03571 01 OF 02 061256Z


1. (U) THE JUNE 30 - JULY 06 EDITION OF NEWS AND VIEWS
FROM VATICAN CITY.

CONTENTS:

- G8: GENOA'S ARCHBISHOP REJECTS VIOLENT PROTESTS
- REPORT ALLEGES MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS SUFFER PERSECUTION
- POPE ENCOURAGES ETHICAL USE OF XENOTRANSPLANTS
- CARITAS OFFICIALS SAYS FOOD AID FOR NORTH KOREA CRUCIAL
- MOTOWN CARDINAL BOOGIES AT "BEST EVER" JULY 4 EVENT

-------------- --------------
G8: GENOA'S CARDINAL ARCHBISHOP WANTS NON-VIOLENT PROTESTS
-------------- --------------


2. (U) GENOA'S ARCHBISHOP, CARDINAL DIONIGI TETTAMANZI,
HAS REJECTED VIOLENT PROTESTS AGAINST THE G8 SUMMIT LATER
THIS MONTH (REFTELS A AND B). IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CENTER-
LEFT ITALIAN DAILY "LA REPUBBLICA," THE CARDINAL DESCRIBED
THE "SEATTLE PEOPLE" AS A NEW CULTURAL PHENOMENON. INSISTING
THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE MUST HAVE A MEANS OF VOICING THEIR
OPINIONS AND INFLUENCING THE ECONOMIC PROCESS, HE ALSO SAID
THAT VIOLENCE IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO ACHIEVE THAT
END. MEANWHILE, THOUSANDS OF YOUNG CATHOLICS ARE EXPECTED TO
DESCEND ON GENOA JULY 7-8 FOR PRE-G8 PROTESTS. ORGANIZERS
SAY THE YOUNG CATHOLICS ARE PROTESTING EARLY TO AVOID THE
EXPECTED "PANDEMONIUM" DURING THE SUMMIT. A SPOKESMAN FOR
THE CATHOLIC GROUPS SAID THEY HAD NOTHING AGAINST THE
"SEATTLE PEOPLE" BUT THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO RUN THE RISK
OF BEING DRAGGED INTO "A DEGENERATION INTO VIOLENCE". THE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 VATICA 03571 01 OF 02 061256Z
SPOKESMAN SAID VIOLENCE WAS "AGAINST OUR PRINCIPLES AND IT

IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE." THE YOUNG DEMONSTRATORS WILL BE
WELCOMED TO GENOA BY CARDINAL TETTAMANZI. CHARGE HAS AN
APPOINTMENT TO SEE THE CARDINAL AND WILL REPORT SEPTEL.

-------------- --------------
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM LACKING FOR MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS
-------------- --------------


3. (U) THE VATICAN-SANCTIONED RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WATCHDOG
GROUP "AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED" ALLEGES SOME 200 MILLION
CHRISTIANS EXPERIENCE RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. A 400-PAGE
REPORT, THE THIRD OF ITS KIND, PROVIDED INFORMATION OF THE
STATUS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN EACH OF THE WORLD'S NATIONS.
IT ALSO PROVIDED STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON NUMBERS OF
RELIGIOUS BELIEVERS AND REFUGEES. AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED
ESTIMATES THAT 165,000 CHRISTIANS WERE KILLED LARGELY ON
ACCOUNT OF THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS DURING 2000. THE VIOLENCE
WAS MOST PRONOUNCED IN INDONESIA, SUDAN, EAST TIMOR, INDIA
AND EGYPT. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, DISCRIMINATION AND LEGAL
SANCTIONS AGAINST CHRISTIANS WERE MOST OBVIOUS IN CHINA,
SUDAN, INDONESIA, NIGERIA AND TURKMENISTAN. AID TO THE
CHURCH IN NEED ALSO POINTED OUT MORE SUBTLE FORMS OF
DISCRIMINATION IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. THE REPORT SAID A
RECENT FRENCH BILL THAT CRIMINALIZES "MENTAL MANIPULATION"
POTENTIALLY COULD BE TURNED AGAINST ANY PARENTS WHO RAISE
THEIR CHILDREN IN A FAITH OR MONKS AND NUNS WHO LIVE IN
COMMUNITIES THAT COULD BE VIEWED AS SECT-LIKE.

-------------- --------------
POPE WANTS ETHICS-SCIENCE PARTNERSHIP FOR XENOTRANSPLANTS
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 VATICA 03571 01 OF 02 061256Z
-------------- --------------


4. (U) POPE JOHN PAUL II HAS ENCOURAGED SCIENTISTS AND
ETHICISTS TO WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE THE MORAL ISSUES
SURROUNDING THE TRANSPLANT OF ANIMAL ORGANS INTO HUMANS. IN
A JULY 3 MESSAGE, THE PONTIFF SAID ANY MORAL RESPONSE MUST
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY, POSSIBLE HEALTH
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSPLANTING ORGANS FROM OTHER
SPECIES AND ADEQUATE RESPECT FOR THE DONOR ANIMALS. THE POPE
SAID XENOTRANSPLANT RESEARCH WAS IN THE INTEREST OF HUMANITY
BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS LACK OF AVAILABLE HUMAN ORGANS, WHICH
HAS LED TO MANY TRANSPLANT PATIENTS DYING WHILE STILL ON
WAITING LISTS. THE PAPAL MESSAGE COINCIDED WITH THE THIRD
AND FINAL MEETING OF A WORKING GROUP OF THE PONTIFICAL
ACADEMY FOR LIFE DEVOTED TO ANIMAL ORGAN TRANSPLANTS.

--------------
FOOD AID FOR NORTH KOREA CRUCIAL
--------------


5. (U) THE CARITAS OFFICIAL WHO COORDINATES FOOD AID FOR
NORTH KOREA SAYS AID IS URGENTLY NEEDED TO COMBAT THE
EFFECTS OF DROUGHT AND FAMINE. ATTENDING AN AID CONFERENCE
IN SOUTH KOREA, KATHI ZELLWEGER OF CARITAS HONG KONG (REFTEL
C) SAID NORTH KOREA IS THREATENED BY A SEVERE FAMINE.
ACCORDING TO ZELLWEGER, ONLY 5 PERCENT OF AN EXPECTED US

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ5181

PAGE 01 VATICA 03571 02 OF 02 061256Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CA-01 CIAE-00
COME-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EAP-00
EB-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 HHS-01 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 M-00 AC-01
NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OCS-03 OES-01 OIC-02 PA-00 PM-00
ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00
TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 R-00 SNIS-00 NISC-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /012W
-------------- 01D2DB 061319Z /38
R 061341Z JUL 01
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY SEOUL
AMCONSUL HONG KONG

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 003571

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE),EUR/PD/PA, EAP/K, DRL/IRF

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 111/01

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PREL PHUM ECON EAID TBIO SOCI KN PHUM ECON EAID TBIO SOCI KN VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: VATICAN VERBATIM
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 VATICA 03571 02 OF 02 061256Z

DOLLARS 3.26 MILLION IN AID FROM INTERNATIONAL DONORS HAD
BEEN CONFIRMED. IN ADDITION OF FOOD SHORTAGES AND
MALNUTRITION, NORTH KOREA ALSO FACES SHORTAGES IN DRUGS AND
MEDICAL SUPPLIES. (NOTE: SINCE 1995, THE VATICAN NGO CARITAS
HAS DONATED SOME US DOLLARS 25 MILLION OF HUMANITARIAN AID
TO NORTH KOREA, INCLUDING FACTORIES AND FARMING PROJECTS TO
PRODUCE NOODLES AND SWEET POTATOES. END NOTE). ZELLWEGER
SAID THAT IT HAS BECOME MUCH EASIER FOR AID AGENCIES TO
OPERATE IN NORTH KOREA, ADDING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS
RECENTLY OPENED UP REMOTE VILLAGES TO VATICAN-BASED RELIEF
AGENCIES.

-------------- --------------
JULY 4 EVENT: TRADE, CULTURE AND THE BOOGYING CARDINAL
-------------- --------------


6. (U) POST'S JULY 4 EVENT RECEIVED WIDESPREAD COVERAGE
FROM ROME-BASED MEDIA. WHILE SOME REPORTS DESCRIBED THE
EVENT AS "FLASHY," THE BUFFET DINNER AND CONCERT WAS JUDGED
BY MOST OF THE 500 GUESTS AS "THE BEST EVER." AN INCREASED
NUMBER OF GUESTS FROM BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY MEANT THE
EVENT'S US CORPORATE SPONSORS WERE ABLE TO PROMOTE TRADE
OPPORTUNITIES. US CULTURE WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE PRESENCE OF
THREE MASTER CHEFS, FLOWN IN FROM CALIFORNIA AND WASHINGTON
DC, WHO PROVIDED GUESTS WITH A TASTE OF FINE AMERICAN
CUISINE. FORMER SUPREME MARY WILSON AND HER BAND GAVE A
ROUSING PERFORMANCE OF SOUL AND ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC. WHILE
THE MOST OF THE NORMALLY SOLEMN VATICAN GOVERNMENT GUESTS
LIMITED THEMSELVES TO TAPPING THEIR FEET, THE 74-YEAR OLD
GOVERNOR OF VATICAN CITY, US CARDINAL EDMUND SZOKA, BOOGIED
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 VATICA 03571 02 OF 02 061256Z
ENTHUSIASTICALLY THROUGHOUT WILSON'S HOUR-LONG PERFORMANCE.
(NOTE: CARDINAL SZOKA WAS ARCHBISHOP OF DETROIT PRIOR TO HIS
VATICAN APPOINTMENT AND HAS KNOWN MARY WILSON SINCE SHE WAS
A CHILD. END NOTE). MERANTE

UNCLASSIFIED

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2001VATICA03571 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED