Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01VATICAN4755
2001-09-12 12:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

POPE AND VATICAN STAND WITH UNITED STATES

Tags:  PHUM PREF VT 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 121257Z SEP 01
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
UNCLAS VATICAN 004755 

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE(MENNUTI),PD/PA/EUR (HILTON)
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 151/01

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF VT
SUBJECT: POPE AND VATICAN STAND WITH UNITED STATES

UNCLAS VATICAN 004755

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE(MENNUTI),PD/PA/EUR (HILTON)
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 151/01

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF VT
SUBJECT: POPE AND VATICAN STAND WITH UNITED STATES


1. POPE JOHN PAUL II CONDEMNED THE SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST
ATTACKS AGAINST U.S. TARGETS USING SOME OF THE STRONGEST
LANGUAGE EVER HEARD BY POST STAFF. IN HIS SEPTEMBER 12
GENERAL AUDIENCE IN VATICAN CITY, THE POPE, BREAKING WITH
TRADITION, SPOKE SOLELY IN ENGLISH AND ITALIAN. THE USUALLY
FESTIVE OCCASION OF THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS AND TOURISTS
CHANTING AND WAVING NATIONAL FLAG WAS TURNED INTO A SOLEMN
MOMENT OF REFLECTION AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.


2. VATICAN TRANSLATION OF POPE'S REMARKS IN ITALIAN
FOLLOWS.

BEGIN TEXT:

I CANNOT BEGIN THIS AUDIENCE WITHOUT EXPRESSING MY PROFOUND
SORROW AT THE TERRORIST ATTACKS WHICH YESTERDAY BROUGHT
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION TO AMERICA, CAUSING THOUSANDS OF
VICTIMS AND INJURING COUNTLESS PEOPLE. TO THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES AND TO ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS I EXPRESS MY
HEARTFELT SORROW. IN THE FACE OF SUCH UNSPEAKABLE HORROR WE
CANNOT BUT BE DEEPLY DISTURBED. I ADD MY VOICE TO ALL THE
VOICES RAISED IN THESE HOURS TO EXPRESS INDIGNANT
CONDEMNATION, AND I STRONGLY REITERATE THAT THE WAYS OF
VIOLENCE WILL NEVER LEAD TO GENUINE SOLUTIONS TO HUMANITY'S
PROBLEMS. YESTERDAY WAS A DARK DAY IN THE HISTORY OF
HUMANITY, A TERRIBLE AFFRONT TO HUMAN DIGNITY. AFTER
RECEIVING THE NEWS, I FOLLOWED WITH INTENSE CONCERN THE
DEVELOPING SITUATION, WITH HEARTFELT PRAYERS TO THE LORD.
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO COMMIT ACTS OF SUCH SAVAGE CRUELTY?
THE HUMAN HEART HAS DEPTHS FROM WHICH SCHEMES OF UNHEARD-OF
FEROCITY SOMETIMES EMERGE, CAPABLE OF DESTROYING IN A MOMENT
THE NORMAL DAILY LIFE OF A PEOPLE. BUT FAITH COMES TO OUR
AID AT THESE TIMES WHEN WORDS SEEM TO FAIL. CHRIST'S WORD IS
THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN GIVE A RESPONSE TO THE QUESTIONS WHICH
TROUBLE OUR SPIRIT. EVEN IF THE FORCES OF DARKNESS APPEAR TO
PREVAIL, THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN GOD KNOW THAT EVIL AND DEATH
DO NOT HAVE THE FINAL SAY. CHRISTIAN HOPE IS BASED ON THIS
TRUTH; AT THIS TIME OUR PRAYERFUL TRUST DRAWS STRENGTH FROM
IT. WITH DEEPLY FELT SYMPATHY I ADDRESS MYSELF TO THE
BELOVED PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN THIS MOMENT OF
DISTRESS AND CONSTERNATION, WHEN THE COURAGE OF SO MANY MEN
AND WOMEN OF GOOD WILL IS BEING SORELY TESTED. IN A SPECIAL
WAY I REACH OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF THE DEAD AND THE INJURED,
AND ASSURE THEM OF MY SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS. I ENTRUST TO THE
MERCY OF THE MOST HIGH THE HELPLESS VICTIMS OF THIS TRAGEDY,
FOR WHOM I OFFERED MASS THIS MORNING, INVOKING UPON THEM
ETERNAL REST. MAY GOD GIVE COURAGE TO THE SURVIVORS; MAY HE
SUSTAIN THE RESCUE-WORKERS AND THE MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE
PRESENTLY MAKING AN ENORMOUS EFFORT TO COPE WITH SUCH AN
IMMENSE EMERGENCY. I ASK YOU, DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, TO
JOIN ME IN PRAYER FOR THEM. LET US BEG THE LORD THAT THE
SPIRAL OF HATRED AND VIOLENCE WILL NOT PREVAIL. MAY THE
BLESSED VIRGIN, MOTHER OF MERCY, FILL THE HEARTS OF ALL WITH
WISE THOUGHTS AND PEACEFUL INTENTIONS. TODAY, MY HEARTFELT
SYMPATHY IS WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, SUBJECTED YESTERDAY TO
INHUMAN TERRORIST ATTACKS WHICH HAVE TAKEN THE LIVES OF
THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT HUMAN BEINGS AND CAUSED UNSPEAKABLE
SORROW IN THE HEARTS OF ALL MEN AND WOMEN OF GOOD WILL.
YESTERDAY WAS INDEED A DARK DAY IN OUR HISTORY, AN APPALLING
OFFENCE AGAINST PEACE, A TERRIBLE ASSAULT AGAINST HUMAN
DIGNITY. I INVITE YOU ALL TO JOIN ME IN COMMENDING THE
VICTIMS OF THIS SHOCKING TRAGEDY TO ALMIGHTY GOD' S ETERNAL
LOVE. LET US IMPLORE HIS COMFORT UPON THE INJURED, THE
FAMILIES INVOLVED, ALL WHO ARE DOING THEIR UTMOST TO RESCUE
SURVIVORS AND HELP THOSE AFFECTED. I ASK GOD TO GRANT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE THEY NEED AT THIS
TIME OF SORROW AND TRIAL.
END TEXT.


3. COMMENT: THE TONE OF THE POPE'S REMARKS AND THE
MODIFIED GENERAL AUDIENCE INDICATE THE SERIOUSNESS WITH
WHICH THE VATICAN TAKES THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM AND ITS
ESTEEM FOR THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA. THE ATTACKS ON NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON RECEIVED
BANNER HEADLINES IN THE SEPTEMBER 12 EDITION OF THE
VATICAN'S DAILY NEWSPAPER, L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO. AMBASSADOR
NICHOLSON WILL RESPOND PERSONALLY TO THE PAPAL EXPRESSION OF
SOLIDARITY SEPTEMBER 13 WHEN HE PRESENTS HIS CREDENTIALS TO
POPE JOHN PAUL II. END COMMENT.

NICHOLSON