THREE MONTH ANNIVERSARY REMEMBRANCE EVENT OF SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS

UNCLAS VATICAN 006350 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/WE (D MENNUTI) FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 217/01 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KPAO PREL US OIIP CWG PD SUBJECT: THREE MONTH ANNIVERSARY REMEMBRANCE EVENT OF SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS REF: SECSTATE 208711 UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 VATICA 06350 071617Z ¶1. EMBASSY CONTACTED THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF VATICAN CITY TO EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF A THREE-MONTH COMMEMORATION OF THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACK. WE REQUESTED THAT THE VATICAN HOLD AN EVENT IN REMEMBRANCE ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11 AT 1446. THE VATICAN WILL CONFIRM LATER TODAY A MEMORIAL SERVICE IN VATICAN CITY AT ST. PETER'S BASILICA. WE HAVE ALSO REQUESTED THAT CARDINAL SZOKA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COMMISSION OF VATICAN CITY, PRESIDE OVER THE EVENT. WE HAVE ALSO REQUESTED OF THE RECTOR OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE THAT THE SEMINARIANS JOIN IN THE MASS AND THAT BOTH THE PAPAL HYMN AND THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER BE SUNG AT THE MASS. ¶2. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH VATICAN RADIO AND REQUESTED THAT A REMEMBRANCE BE BROADCAST AT EXACTLY 1446 ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11. NICHOLSON UNCLASSIFIED > 2001VATICA06350 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED