AMBASSADOR CALLS ON DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 006036 SIPDIS FOR EUR/WE (MENUTTI); AF/W AND AF/E EMBASSY VATICAN MESSAGE NO. 206/01 E.O. 12958: DECL:OADR 11/23/11 TAGS: PREL VT SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS (U) CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR R. JAMES NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) (D). ¶1. (C) AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON PAID COURTESY CALL ON CARDINAL BERNARDIN GANTIN, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 VATICA 06036 231635Z CARDINALS ON NOVEMBER 23. THE CARDINAL AGAIN EXPRESSED HIS OUTRAGE AND CONDOLENCES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 11 TRAGEDY. GANTIN ALSO SPOKE AT LENGTH ON HIS CLOSE TIES WITH THE UNITED STATES, AS WELL AS HIS HOPES TO VISIT IN DECEMBER IF HIS HEALTH PERMITS. ¶2. (C) CARDINAL GANTIN RAISED ONE ISSUE OF SUBSTANCE, NIGERIA. HE ASKED THE AMBASSADOR IF HE HAS FOCUSED ON NIGERIA. THE AMBASSADOR REPLIED THAT HE HAS NOT YET, BUT EMBASSY VATICAN IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH SANT'EGIDIO ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN AFRICA, AND WE HOPE THAT SENATOR DANFORTH WILL TRAVEL TO THE VATICAN IN DECEMBER TO DISCUSS SUDAN. CARDINAL GANTIN SAID THAT HE RAISED NIGERIA FOR TWO REASONS. THE FIRST IS THAT THE ONLY TWO BLACK AFRICAN CARDINALS IN THE ROMAN CURIA ARE HE (FROM NEIGHBORING BENIN),AND CARDINAL ARINZE FROM NIGERIA. THE SECOND REASON IS THAT HE IS PERSONALLY VERY CONCERNED WITH THE NORTHERN NIGERIAN ISLAMIC/CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE IN THE BENIN BORDER REGION. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: ALTHOUGH RETIRED FROM VATICAN GOVERNMENT SERVICE, AS DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS, GANTIN COULD PRESIDE OVER THE DISCUSSIONS AND VOTES OF THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS IN THE EVENT OF THE DEATH OF THE POPE. THUS, HE REMAINS AN INDIVIDUAL OF CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE IN THE VATICAN. IF THE CARDINAL TRAVELS TO THE UNITED STATES IN DECEMBER, POST RECOMMENDS HE MEET WITH APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS IN THE BUREAU OF AFRICAN AFFAIRS TO DISCUSS HIS CONCERNS WITH THE SITUATION IN NIGERIA. NICHOLSON CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 VATICA 06036 231635Z CONFIDENTIAL > 2001VATICA06036 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL