VATICAN REMEMBERS SEPTEMBER 11

UNCLAS VATICAN 006414 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); EUR/PD/PA (HILTON) FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 219/01 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL VT SUBJECT: VATICAN REMEMBERS SEPTEMBER 11 ¶1. THE VATICAN ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMBRACED THE WHITE HOUSE'S REQUEST FOR A COMMEMORATION ON THE THIRD MONTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS. THE GOVERNOR OF VATICAN CITY UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 VATICA 06414 111610Z STATE, AMERICAN CARDINAL EDMUND SZOKA CELEBRATED A MEMORIAL MASS IN VATICAN CITY DECEMBER 11 FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES. THE MASS BEGAN AT PRECISELY 1446 LOCAL TIME (0846 EST) WITH THE SINGING OF THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER AND THE PLAYING OF THE VATICAN NATIONAL ANTHEM. AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON DID AN OLD TESTAMENT READING DURING THE MASS, AND THE ENTIRE U.S. EMBASSY STAFF ATTENDED THE COMMEMORATION. IN ADDITION OVER 150 OTHERS CAME TO THE EVENT INCLUDING MANY AMBASSADORS AND MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS ACCREDITED TO THE HOLY SEE. THIS TURNOUT SHOWED THE DEPTH OF SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT AMONG OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES FOR THE U.S. AND ITS PEOPLE. THE EVENT WAS WELL COVERED BY VATICAN AND U.S. MEDIA. IN HIS ADDRESS, CARDINAL SZOKA SAID POPE JOHN PAUL II IS NOT A PACIFIST AND THAT THE PONTIFF, IN ACCORDANCE WITH OFFICIAL CATHOLIC DOCTRINE, ACKNOWLEDGES THE RIGHT, AND INDEED, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A COUNTRY TO PROTECT ITS PEOPLE FROM ATTACK. CARDINAL SZOKA LED THE CONGREGATION IN SINGING GOD BLESS AMERICA AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MASS. ¶2. AFTER THE COMMEMORATION AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON WAS INTERVIEWED BY VATICAN RADIO. A FEATURE ON THE COMMEMORATION WILL BE INTERNATIONALLY BROADCAST ON DECEMBER ¶12. NICHOLSON UNCLASSIFIED > 2001VATICA06414 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED