PAPAL ADDRESS FOCUSES ON VIOLENCE, RESPONSIBILITY

UNCLAS VATICAN 000180 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI),NEA/IAI FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 007/02 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL VT UN SUBJECT: PAPAL ADDRESS FOCUSES ON VIOLENCE, RESPONSIBILITY AND FORGIVENESS ¶1. IN HIS ANNUAL SPEECH TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS, POPE JOHN PAUL II OFFERED HIS VERSION OF THE STATE OF THE WORLD, FOCUSING ON AREAS TRADITIONALLY OF CONCERN TO THE CHURCH. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 VATICA 00180 111548Z ESCHEWING FOR THE MOST PART HIS TRADITIONAL EXHORTATION FOR DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TO DO MORE FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE, IT STRUCK MANY THAT THE PONTIFF EXPRESSED A BALANCED AND REALISTIC ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT CONDITIONS AND A GENTLE PRESCRIPTION FOR THE FUTURE. ¶2. EARLY ON, HE OFFERED A COMMENTARY ON EU EXPANSION: HE SUPPORTS IT AND INDEED ENCOURAGES MORE, BUT ASSERTS THAT EVEN A SECULAR EUROPE MUST ALLOW RELIGIOUS VOICES TO HAVE A PLACE IN EU PLANNING -- ESPECIALLY IN THE UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS OF AN EU CONSTITUTION. HE NOTED PROGRESS IN CYPRUS, KOSOVO AND SRI LANKA, AND CONGRATULATED BOTH THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC, AND THE REPUBLIC, OF CHINA FOR TAKING SEATS AT THE WTO. ¶3. ON THE ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN CONFLICT HE DECRIED "THE INJUSTICE OF WHICH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VICTIMS FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS." HE ADDED THAT ONLY A HALT TO THE VIOLENCE AND "RESPECT FOR OTHERS AND THEIR LEGITIMATE ASPIRATIONS, THE APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, THE WITHDRAWAL FROM OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, AND INTERNATIONALLY GUARANTEED STATUS FOR THE MOST HOLY PLACES IN JERUSALEM,.." CAN BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE TO WHICH THERE IS APPARENTLY NO END. ALL OF THE ABOVE IS STANDARD VATICAN LANGUAGE -- AS WAS HIS EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY BE ACCEPTED BY ALL PARTIES TO TAKE A ROLE IN THE PEACE PROCESS. (NOTE: WE READ THIS TO INCLUDE COUNTRIES BESIDES THE U.S. IN THE PEACE PROCESS, TO INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL MONITORS.) ¶4. THE POPE REITERATED HIS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE UNITED STATES' RIGHT TO "LEGITIMATE DEFENSE" AGAINST THE TERRORIST UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 VATICA 00180 111548Z ATTACKS OF 9/11. NOTING THE NEED ALSO TO CONSIDER STRATEGIES TO COMBAT IT, ADDRESS CAUSAL FACTORS, AND BEGIN A HEALING PROCESS, HE OFFERED AN IMPLICIT ENDORSEMENT OF OUR CAMPAIGN BY SIMPLY URGING THE KARZAI GOVERNMENT TO MOVE QUICKLY TO "PACIFY" ALL OF AFGHANISTAN'S TERRITORY. ¶5. THE PONTIFF RESERVED HIS MOST HARSH AND BLUNT CRITICISM FOR THOSE WHO WOULD COMMIT VIOLENCE IN THE NAME OF GOD. HE CALLED THIS "BLASPHEMY AND A PERVERSION OF RELIGION." HE FURTHER DECRIED TERRORISM "IN THE NAME OF GOD," AS A "PROFANATION OF RELIGION." ¶6. TOWARDS THE END OF HIS TALK, THE PONTIFF OFFERED BRIEF COMMENTS ON THE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT GAP. UNLIKE IN PREVIOUS ANNUAL ADDRESSES, IN WHICH HE SOUGHT TO STIMULATE THE NORTH TO DO MORE FOR THE SOUTH, THIS TIME HE URGED THE POLITICAL CLASSES -- IN AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA ESPECIALLY -- TO SET ASIDE THEIR GREED AND PARTISAN DIFFERENCE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR BETTERING THEIR OWN SITUATION. ¶7. IN CLOSING, THE PONTIFF OFFERED HIS INSIGHTS ON THE NATURE OF GOD AND MAN; HE UNDERSCORED THAT, ALONE AMONG THE MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS, CHRISTIANITY OFFERS TO THE WORLD (AND TO ISLAM IN PARTICULAR) A FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH -- THAT TO FORGIVE IS DIVINE. HE HOPED THAT THE JANUARY 24 DAY OF PRAYER IN ASSISI WOULD BRING THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIOUS LEADERS TOGETHER AROUND THE MESSAGE THAT RELIGION SHOULD NOT, AND INDEED TODAY CANNOT, BE SPREAD BY FORCE OF ARMS. NICHOLSON UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 VATICA 00180 111548Z UNCLASSIFIED > 2002VATICA00180 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED