AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 006470

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); NEA/NGA

EMBASSY VATICAN MESSAGE NO. 219/01

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/11
TAGS: PREL PHUM RM VT
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT


OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

REF: VATICAN 06036

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5
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PAGE 02 VATICA 06470 131632Z
(A) AND (D).


1. (C) AMBASSADOR PAID COURTESY CALL ON THE PRESIDENT OF
THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOG,
CARDINAL FRANCIS ARINZE. CARDINAL ARINZE IS ONE OF ONLY
TWO BLACK AFRICANS IN THE ROMAN CURIA (REF). THE
CARDINAL DISCUSSED THE COUNCIL'S COORDINATION OF DIALOG
WITH ALL NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS. THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS
DIALOG WITH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, WHICH ALONG WITH NON-
CATHOLIC CHRISTAN DENOMINATIONS, IS CONDUCTED BY THE
COUNCIL FOR CHRISTAN UNITY. ARINZE FURTHER EXPLAINED
THAT THE COUNCIL GREW OUT OF THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL
IN WHICH IT WAS DECIDED TO TRY TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER
RELIGIOUS BODIES TO FOSTER BETTER UNDERSTANDING BY
EMPHASIZING WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON, AND HOW THEY CAN
BETTER SERVE MANKIND JOINTLY.


2. (C) CARDINAL ARINZE'S BIGGEST ACCOUNT IS DIALOG WITH
THE MUSLIMS. THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, WITH 18% OF THE
WORLD'S POPULATION, IS THE SECOND LARGEST WORLD RELIGION
AFTER CHRISTIANITY WHICH COMPOSES 33%. HE STATED THAT TWO
AREAS IN WHICH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WISHES TO CHANGE
CURRENT MUSLIM THINKING IS THAT OF 1)EDUCATION AND
2)RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. THE VATICAN IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
THE MUSLIM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SYSTEM WHICH PORTRAYS
CHRISTIANS AS THE "ENEMY"; AND WITH THE LACK OF RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM IN MANY MUSLIM COUNTRIES.

3. (C) THE CARDINAL USED THE OCCASION TO AGAIN EXPRESS
HIS CONDOLENCES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACK. HE SAID IT
WOULD BE A "DISASTER" IF THE CONCEPT OF HUNTINQTON'S
"CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS" WERE TO BECOME A REALITY. HE
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WENT ON TO STATE, HOWEVER, THAT THE U.S. MUST REALIZE
THAT IF THE PALESTINIAN/ISRAELI CONFLICT WERE SETTLED AND
IF THE EMBARQO AQAINST IRAQ WERE LIFTED, MUCH OF THE
AQENDA OF THE FUNDAMENTALISTS WOULD "EVAPORATE". THE
AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED WHY IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE
EMBARQO ON SADDAM HUSSEIN'S REQIME. THE CARDINAL REPLIED
THAT EVEN IF THE CASE HAS MERIT, THE IMAQES IN WHICH THE
MUSLIM WORLD SEES ARE THOSE OF "DYING BABIES", DUE TO
HARD-HEARTED, MEAN AMERICANS.


4. (C) CARDINAL ARINZE SPOKE BRIEFLY ABOUT HIS COUNCIL'S
ROLE IN ORGANIZING THE JANUARY 24 INTER-RELIGIOUS
CONFERENCE IN ASSISI. HE SAID THAT HE EXPECTED
APPROXIMATELY 50 U.S. RELIQIOUS LEADERS TO BE INVITED.
THE AMBASSADOR REQUESTED THAT HE SHARE THE INVITATION
LIST WITH THE EMBASSY AS SOON AS IT IS FINALIZED.


5. (C) COMMENT: THE JANUARY 24 CONFERENCE, ALTHOUGH
OSTENSIBLY A RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE, HAS THE POTENTIAL OF
PRODUCING POLITICAL STATEMENTS. IT IS LIKELY THAT ONE
SUCH STATEMENT WILL BE A CONDEMNATION OF THE EMBARQO IN
IRAQ. POST WILL MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS LEADINQ TO THE
CONFERENCE, AS WELL AS ATTEND IN AN OBSERVER CAPACITY.
NICHOLSON

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2001VATICA06470 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL