Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02VATICAN521
2002-02-04 06:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

THE ASSISI WORLD DAY FOR PEACE. THE VATICAN TAKES ON THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS.

Tags:  IT PHUM PREL VT 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 000521 

SIPDIS

EUR/WE (D. MENNUTI); DRL/IRF (T.FARR)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2012
TAGS: IT PHUM PREL PHUM PREL PHUM PREL VT VTIT VTIT
SUBJECT: THE ASSISI WORLD DAY FOR PEACE. THE VATICAN TAKES
ON THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS.

REF: VATICAN 00445

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON, REASONS 1.5 B.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 000521

SIPDIS

EUR/WE (D. MENNUTI); DRL/IRF (T.FARR)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2012
TAGS: IT PHUM PREL PHUM PREL PHUM PREL VT VTIT VTIT
SUBJECT: THE ASSISI WORLD DAY FOR PEACE. THE VATICAN TAKES
ON THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS.

REF: VATICAN 00445

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON, REASONS 1.5 B.


1. (U) SUMMARY: POPE JOHN PAUL II LED AN INTERFAITH APPEAL
FOR PEACE JANUARY 24 IN ASSISI, ITALY AT WHICH HE ISSUED A
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 00521 01 OF 03 040621Z
RINGING CONDEMNATION OF VIOLENCE PERPETRATED IN THE NAME OF
RELIGION. MORE THAN 300 RELIGIOUS LEADERS ATTENDED FROM
AROUND THE WORLD TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE PAPAL CALL FOR
DIALOG AMONG RELIGIONS AND CULTURES. THE MEETING, WHICH THE
POPE CALLED IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE WORLD SITUATION
POST-SEPTEMBER, INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES OF WESTERN AND
NON-WESTERN RELIGIONS. VATICAN-WATCHERS HIGHLIGHTED THE
STRONG ORTHODOX PRESENCE. KEY MUSLIM PARTICIPANTS NUMBERED
OVER THIRTY, INCLUDING A THEOLOGIAN FROM MECCA WHO SPOKE AT
LENGTH WITH POLOFF. THE ASSISI MEETING REPRESENTED THE
CULMINATION OF RECENT VATICAN EFFORTS TO COMBAT PERCEPTIONS
OF A CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) THE JANUARY 24 ASSISI "DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE IN THE
WORLD" WAS THE OCCASION FOR UNUSUAL ENCOUNTERS AND UNLIKELY
DIALOGUE. SHARING CENTER STAGE WERE ZOROASTRIAN AND CATHOLIC,
ANIMIST AND MUSLIM, BUDDHIST AND BAPTIST, JAINIST AND QUAKER,
HINDU AND ORTHODOX, AND MANY OTHERS FROM SCORES OF
DISTINCTIVE FAITH TRADITIONS. AN ATTEMPT TO BRIDGE RELIGIOUS
DIFFERENCES IN AN AFFIRMATION OF COMMON VALUES, THE ASSISI
MEETING REPRESENTED AN ECUMENICAL AND INTERFAITH CAPSTONE FOR
THE JOHN PAUL II PAPACY. THE POPE'S OWN CONDEMNATION OF WAR,
TERRORISM, AND, MOST ESPECIALLY, VIOLENCE IN THE NAME OF
RELIGION, FURTHER REPRESENTED A VERY PERSONAL RESPONSE TO THE
GLOBAL CRISIS PRECIPITATED BY SEPTEMBER 11 (REF.


3. (U) THE POPE CONVOKED THE ASSISI GATHERING IN LATE
NOVEMBER 2001 IN AN URGENT APPEAL FOR PEACE IN A WORLD
WOUNDED BY WAR AND TERRORISM. THE VATICAN HAD LITTLE
LEAD-TIME TO MOUNT A COMPLEX OPERATION IN LOGISTICS AND
PROTOCOL. THE VATICAN HOWEVER IS A VETERAN HAND IN

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 VATICA 00521 01 OF 03 040621Z
ORCHESTRATING LARGE EVENTS, ESPECIALLY AFTER HANDLING THE
MILLIONS OF PILGRIMS DURING THE JUBILEE YEAR. MOREOVER,
THERE WERE HELPFUL PRECEDENTS IN ASSISI ITSELF, WHICH HAD
HOSTED LARGE INTERFAITH GATHERINGS IN 1982, 1986 AND 1993.


4. (U) IN 1982 POPE JOHN PAUL II LAUNCHED THE ASSISI
MEETINGS WITH A LARGE-SCALE COMMEMORATION OF THE 700TH
BIRTHDAY OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI, THE CELEBRATED UMBRIAN
SAINT OF POVERTY AND PEACE (WHO ALSO TRIED HIS HAND AT
DIPLOMACY WHEN HE TRAVELED TO THE MIDDLE EAST TO SEEK AN END
TO THE CRUSADES). IN 1986 THE POPE RETURNED TO ASSISI
FLANKED BY MYRIAD RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN AN APPEAL TO END THE
DANGEROUS DIVISIONS OF THE COLD WAR. IN 1993 JOHN PAUL II
CONVOKED A SMALLER GATHERING IN ASSISI TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS
IN THE BALKANS. THE 1986 MEETING IN PARTICULAR BECAME THE
TOUCHSTONE FOR SUBSEQUENT VATICAN EFFORTS IN INTERFAITH
RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL DIALOGUE. OTHER INTERFAITH
GATHERINGS, NOTABLY UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE COMMUNITY OF
SANT'EGIDIO, INVARIABLY INVOKE THE SPIRIT OF THE 1986 MEETING
IN ASSISI.

ASSISI IN 2002: THE VATICAN TAKES ON THE CLASH OF
CIVILIZATIONS
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) IN THE WAKE OF SEPTEMBER 11 THE VATICAN HAS SOUGHT
TO COUNTER PERCEPTIONS OF A CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS. ITS
SUPPORT FOR THE U.S.-LED CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORISM HAS
CONSISTENTLY BEEN TEMPERED BY EFFORTS TO DEFUSE ANY RELIGIOUS
ASPECT TO THE CONFLICT. EVEN AS VATICAN OFFICIALS LAUDED
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PAGE 04 VATICA 00521 01 OF 03 040621Z
PRESIDENT BUSH'S OUTREACH TO ISLAM AND HIS VISIT TO AN
AMERICAN MOSQUE, THE VATICAN HAS BEEN PURSUING ITS OWN
PROGRAM OF OUTREACH TO MUSLIM LEADERSHIP. IN SEPTEMBER A
VATICAN DELEGATION (THAT INCLUDED AN AMERICAN WOMAN WITH A
VATICAN PASSPORT) TRAVELED TO TEHERAN TO CONTINUE THE
"DIALOGUE OF CIVILIZATIONS" BETWEEN THE HOLY SEE AND IRAN.
IN LATE OCTOBER THE VATICAN AND THE AL-AZHAR ISLAMIC
UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO MOVED FORWARD THEIR SCHEDULED CALENDAR OF
MEETINGS IN ORDER TO PRESS QUIET YET TIMELY INTERFAITH
DISCUSSIONS. IN NOVEMBER POPE JOHN PAUL II CALLED ON
CATHOLICS TO FAST FOR PEACE ON DECEMBER 14 -- THE LAST DAY OF
RAMADAN -- FORGING AN UNPRECEDENTED IF SHORT-LIVED MOMENT
SHARED BETWEEN THE TWO FAITHS. AND IN PUBLIC STATEMENTS THE
POPE, WITH INCREASING EMPHASIS, HAS CONDEMNED VIOLENCE
PERPETRATED IN THE NAME OF RELIGION, IN EFFECT REPUDIATING

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4331

PAGE 01 VATICA 00521 02 OF 03 040621Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 DS-00
VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NEA-00
DCP-01 NSAE-00 SS-00 T-00 SNIS-00 NISC-00 DSCC-00
DRL-02 SAS-00 /004W
-------------- 6174F8 040621Z /38
P 040601Z FEB 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO ALGERIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
ISLAMIC CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY
AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY
AMCONSUL MARSEILLE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 VATICAN 000521

SIPDIS

EUR/WE (D. MENNUTI); DRL/IRF (T.FARR)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2012
TAGS: IT PHUM PREL PHUM PREL PHUM PREL VT VTIT VTIT
SUBJECT: THE ASSISI WORLD DAY FOR PEACE. THE VATICAN TAKES
ON THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS.

THE SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORISTS AND BIN LADEN FROM THE ACCEPTED
FAMILY OF BELIEVERS. "THERE IS NO RELIGIOUS GOAL WHICH
POSSIBLY CAN JUSTIFY THE USE OF VIOLENCE BY MAN AGAINST MAN,"
THE POPE REITERATED IN ASSISI, IN THE PRESENCE OF SOME THIRTY
MUSLIM RELIGIOUS LEADERS.

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 00521 02 OF 03 040621Z

6. (SBU) WHILE THE POPE'S OWN ASSISI PROCLAMATION "VIOLENCE
NEVER AGAIN! WAR NEVER AGAIN! TERRORISM NEVER AGAIN!"
DOMINATED THE HEADLINES, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF INTERVENTIONS
READ BY OR ON BEHALF OF LEADERS OF DIFFERENT FAITHS, CREEDS,
AND DENOMINATIONS. EACH STATEMENT HAD ITS OWN ACCENT AND
IDENTITY, WITH NO EVIDENT PLOYS FOR SECTARIAN OR ETHNIC
ADVANTAGE. SHEIK MOHAMMED AL-TANTAWI, HEAD OF CAIRO'S
AL-AZHAR MOSQUE, WAS ABSENT, YET SENT A DECLARATION READ BY A
REPRESENTATIVE. THE STATEMENT, A COMMITMENT TO THE
IMPORTANCE OF DIALOGUE, DID RAISE EYEBROWS HOWEVER, LAUDING
POPE JOHN PAUL II AS A CHAMPION OF PALESTINIANS AND OMITTING
ANY MENTION OF JUDAISM OR THE RABBINICAL PRESENCE ON STAGE.
YET FOR THE VATICAN INDIVIDUAL STATEMENTS COUNTED LESS THAN
THE FACT AND WITNESS OF EACH LEADER'S PRESENCE, NOTABLY THE
MUSLIM AND ORTHODOX REPRESENTATIVES. "THE VERY FACT THAT WE
ARE LISTENING TO ONE ANOTHER," THE POPE SAID, "IS A SIGN OF
PEACE."

THE SECOND FRONT: ADVANCING RAPPROCHEMENT WITH THE ORTHODOX.
-------------- --------------


7. (U) THE ASSISI ENCOUNTER INCLUDED A HOST OF ORTHODOX
PATRIARCHS, THUS MARKING A KEY STEP FORWARD IN THE VATICAN'S
OUTREACH TO EASTERN CHRISTIANITY. THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH OF
CONSTANTINOPLE, BARTHOLOMEW, WHO HAS MET THE POPE SEVERAL
TIMES, LENT LEGITIMACY AMONG ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS TO THE
GATHERING. THE TRUE WATERSHED HOWEVER WAS THE PRESENCE OF
THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH'S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE,
METROPOLITAN PITRIM. VATICAN WATCHERS WERE QUICK TO READ
INTO THE METROPOLITAN'S PRESENCE HOPES OF A SOFTENING IN THE
RUSSIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH'S HITHERTO STRENUOUS OPPOSITION TO
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 VATICA 00521 02 OF 03 040621Z
A PAPAL VISIT TO RUSSIA, REITERATED PUBLICLY ONLY DAYS
PREVIOUSLY. INDEED, FIDES, A VATICAN-BASED NEWS-SERVICE,
CALLED THE HIGH CALIBER OF ORTHODOX SUPPORT FOR THE ASSISI
MEETING "AN UNHOPED FOR STEP CLOSER FOR CHRISTIANS OF EAST
AND WEST, UNTHINKABLE ONLY MONTHS AGO."

ASSESSMENT: A COUP FOR THE VATICAN.
-------------- --------------


8. (U) THE ASSISI GATHERING GENERATED ALMOST ENTIRELY
POSITIVE PRESS FOR THE VATICAN. IT REINFORCED THE VATICAN'S
CAREFULLY CULTIVATED IMAGE AS A MODERN AGENT OF DIALOG
BETWEEN CULTURES. IT PROMOTED THE POPE'S UNIQUE CLAIM TO
SPEAK AS A UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED MORAL AUTHORITY. THE
VATICAN ITSELF ADVANCED ITS AGENDA OF GREATER RAPPROCHEMENT
WITH THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES, THOUGH A PAPAL TRIP TO RUSSIA
REMAINS FOR NOW A DISTANT POSSIBILITY. AT ASSISI THE VATICAN
ALSO TOOK THE OCCASION TO SHOWCASE THE ORIENTAL CHURCHES --
E.G. THE SYRO ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE OF ANTIOCH, THE ARMENIAN
APOSTOLIC CHURCH, THE ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA, ETC.
-- WHOSE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WERE A MEDIA SENSATION IN THEIR
STRIKING CLERICAL GARB. THEIR PRESENCE IN ASSISI WAS A
SALIENT REMINDER THAT THE OVERARCHING ISSUE FOR THE VATICAN
IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND OFTEN ELSEWHERE IS THE PROTECTION OF
IMPERILED CHRISTIAN MINORITIES. FINALLY, AND MOST IMPORTANT
IN THE NEAR TERM, THE ASSISI MEETING PROVIDED AN INTERFAITH
IMPRIMATUR TO THE VATICAN'S POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS STRATEGY
TO ENSURE THAT THE AFTERMATH OF SEPTEMBER 11 DOES NOT EVOLVE
INTO A WAR BETWEEN RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS.

ALL ABOARD! TICKETS ON THE PEACE TRAIN.
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 VATICA 00521 02 OF 03 040621Z
--------------


9. IN A FITTING SYMBOL, JOHN PAUL II AND OVER 300 RELIGIOUS
LEADERS DEPARTED TOGETHER FOR ASSISI FROM THE VATICAN RAIL
STATION, ITS FIRST USE FOR PAPAL TRAVEL SINCE 1979. DUBBED
THE PEACE TRAIN, IT WAS A MEDIA METAPHOR FOR THE ASSISI
MEETING, EMBARKING THE RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP ON A JOURNEY WITH
A COMMON PURPOSE. IN MANY RESPECTS, ASSISI WAS A FORUM FOR
POLITICS BY OTHER MEANS, NOT JUST FOR THE VATICAN BUT FOR
OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS, TOO, WHO WERE FURNISHED A READY-MADE
STAGE ON WHICH TO ATTEST THEIR COMMITMENT TO PEACE AND
DIALOG.

FOSTERING CROSS-CULTURAL DIALOG.
-------------- --------------

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4332

PAGE 01 VATICA 00521 03 OF 03 040622Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 DS-00
VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NEA-00
DCP-01 NSAE-00 SS-00 T-00 SNIS-00 NISC-00 DSCC-00
DRL-02 SAS-00 /004W
-------------- 6174FE 040622Z /38
P 040601Z FEB 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO ALGERIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
ISLAMIC CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY
AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY
AMCONSUL MARSEILLE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 VATICAN 000521

SIPDIS

EUR/WE (D. MENNUTI); DRL/IRF (T.FARR)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2012
TAGS: IT PHUM PREL PHUM PREL PHUM PREL VT VTIT VTIT
SUBJECT: THE ASSISI WORLD DAY FOR PEACE. THE VATICAN TAKES
ON THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS.


10. (SBU) WHILE THE FACT OF ISLAMIC TURNOUT AT ASSISI WAS
PROMISING, IT WAS LIMITED. SANT'EGIDIO LEADERS LAMENTED TO
POLOFF THE DIFFICULTY IN DEVELOPING A BASE OF MUSLIM
INTERLOCUTORS OPEN TO THE MESSAGE OF DIALOG. MOREOVER,
INTERESTED MUSLIM RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE NOT NECESSARILY
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 00521 03 OF 03 040622Z
PREPARED TO ADOPT A PUBLIC STANCE IN FAVOR OF DIALOG.


10. (C) POLOFF RETURNED FROM ASSISI TO ROME IN THE COMPANY
OF A LONGSTANDING MULSIM COLLABORATOR OF SANT'EGIDIO, A
FRANCOPHONE ALGERIAN PROFESSOR IN MECCA WHO PARTICIPATED
UNOFFICIALLY IN THE INTERFAITH GATHERING. MUHAMMED ESSLIMANI
(STRICTLY PROTECT) TOLD POLOFF THAT HE HAS BEEN WAGING AN
UPHILL BATTLE WITH FACULTY COLLEAGUES ON THE MERITS OF
OUTREACH TO THE NON-MUSLIM RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY. HOWEVER,
SEPTEMBER 11, HE SAID, HERALDED A SEA CHANGE. RELIGIOUS
LEADERS NOW INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED THAT ISLAM HAD A DUTY TO
ADDRESS THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED IN ITS NAME AND TO COMBAT
WIDESPREAD IGNORANCE ABOUT NON-MUSLIMS. HE ADDED THAT SOME
FORMERLY CRITICAL COLLEAGUES, WHO THEMSELVES ESCHEWED ALL
CONTACT WITH NON-MUSLIMS, HAD NOW EXPRESSED NEWFOUND
APPRECIATION FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL OUTREACH. NONETHELESS,
THERE WAS GREAT IGNORANCE CONCERNING NON-MUSLIMS, A NEED FOR
EDUCATION, AND FOR CONTACT WITH NON-MUSLIM RELIGIOUS LEADERS
OF GOOD WILL. HE REGRETTED THAT THE FEW MUSLIM LEADERS WHO
PRESENT THEMSELVES AS SO-CALLED MODERATES LACK REAL
THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS AND CREDIBILITY, HARSHLY DENOUNCING
THE MUFTI OF MARSEILLES IN PARTICULAR. IT WAS IMPERATIVE TO
DEVELOP A NEW RELIGIOUS GENERATION WITHIN THE ARAB WORLD, HE
SAID, EXPLAINING HIS DISCREET COLLABORATION WITH SANT'EGIDIO
AND HIS UNOFFICIAL PRESENCE AT THE ASSISI MEETING.
NICHOLSON

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002VATICA00521 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL