Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03VATICAN135
2003-01-14 07:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

POPE'S MESSAGE TO DIPLOMATIC CORPS FOCUSES ON WAR,

Tags:  PREL PHUM VT VTPREL 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000135 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PHUM VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: POPE'S MESSAGE TO DIPLOMATIC CORPS FOCUSES ON WAR,
PEACE AND SOLIDARITY AMONG NATIONS

-------
SUMMARY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000135

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PHUM VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: POPE'S MESSAGE TO DIPLOMATIC CORPS FOCUSES ON WAR,
PEACE AND SOLIDARITY AMONG NATIONS

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. IN HIS ANNUAL SPEECH TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS JANUARY
13, POPE JOHN PAUL II OFFERED HIS PERSPECTIVE ON THE STATE OF
THE WORLD. CITING THE CURRENT "FEAR THAT OFTEN DWELLS IN THE
HEARTS OF OUR CONTEMPORARIES," HE IDENTIFIED THE CAUSES OF
THIS FEAR AS: "INSIDIOUS TERRORISM, UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS IN
THE MIDDLE EAST INCLUDING THE HOLY LAND AND IRAQ, THE TURMOIL
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PAGE 02 VATICA 00135 01 OF 02 141831Z
IN SOUTH AMERICA -- ARGENTINA, COLOMBIA AND VENEZUELA --
FAMINE AND CONFLICTS IN AFRICA, PANDEMICS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL
EXPLOITATION. THE POPE SOUGHT TO STRIKE A NOTE OF OPTIMISM
AMIDST THIS LITANY OF WOES, ASSERTING THAT RESPECT FOR LIFE,
RESPECT FOR LAW, AND SOLIDARITY CAN PREVENT HUMANITY FROM
"SINKING INTO THE ABYSS." WHILE THE POPE MADE A STRONG
APPEAL AGAINST WAR, HE DID NOT CLOSE THE DOOR ON WAR AS A
LAST OPTION WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE UN. CONTRARY TO
HEADLINES IN ONE ITALIAN PAPER, THE HOLY SEE TOLD US THEY ARE
NOT PLANNING ON SENDING ENVOYS TO IRAQ AND BAGDAD AT THIS
TIME.

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WAR WITH IRAQ
--------------


2. AS EXPECTED, THE POPE'S ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE
DIPLOMATIC CORPS STRONGLY REJECTED WAR, TERRORISM AND ARMED
VIOLENCE SPECIFICALLY IN ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES AND
IRAQ. WHILE THE MEDIA FOCUS WILL BE ON THE POPE'S "NO TO
WAR," THE POPE ALSO MAINTAINED THE LINES OF THE FULL HOLY SEE
POSITION ON IRAQ WHICH RECOGNIZES THAT THE DECISION TO WAGE
WAR TO ENSURE THE COMMON GOOD WAS AN OPTION -- EVEN IF A LAST
ONE AND "IN ACCORDANCE WITH VERY STRICT CONDITIONS" (I.E.,
THE HOLY SEE'S INTERPRETATION OF THE JUST WAR THEORY).
ACCORDING TO THE POPE, ONLY THE UN HAD THE INTERNATIONAL
AUTHORITY TO MAKE A DECISION TO WAGE WAR. BUT HE
SPECIFICALLY UNDERLINED THAT CONFLICTS CAN BE AVOIDED BY
"GOOD WILL, TRUST IN OTHERS, FIDELITY TO COMMITMENTS AND
COOPERATION BETWEEN RESPONSIBLE PARTNERS." HE ALSO
EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF COUNTRIES RESPECTING COMMON AND
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PAGE 03 VATICA 00135 01 OF 02 141831Z
INVIOLABLE PRINCIPLES IN ORDER TO GUARANTEE STABILITY TO ALL
PEOPLES. (COMMENT: WE TAKE THE PONTIFF'S REFERENCE TO LIVING
UP TO ONE'S COMMITMENTS AS A DIRECT APPEAL TO BOTH IRAQ AND
NORTH KOREA TO BEHAVE AS RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF THE

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. END COMMENT).

--------------
SOLIDARITY AMONG NATIONS
--------------


3. THE POPE'S SAID THE WORLD'S VARIOUS CRISES COULD BE
AVERTED ONLY WITH RESPECT FOR LIFE, INCLUDING THE REJECTION
OF CLONING AND EUTHANASIA, AS WELL AS THE REJECTION OF WAR;
RESPECT FOR LAW AS A FOUNDATION FOR NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL STABILITY; AND THE DUTY OF SOLIDARITY WITH LESS
FORTUNATE PEOPLES AND NATIONS AS A COUNTER TO VIOLENCE. HE
EXHORTED DEVELOPED NATIONS TO SHARE THEIR TECHNOLOGICAL
KNOW-HOW WITH DEVELOPING NATIONS. HERE, HE SPECIFICALLY
CALLED ON THE DEVELOPED WORLD TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO WATER, AND
TO GENERIC MEDICINES TO FIGHT CURRENT PANDEMICS. (COMMENT:
THE HOLY SEE REMAINS CONCERNED ABOUT THE COLLAPSE OF THE WTO
TALKS IN GENEVA LAST MONTH ON TRIPS, AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS
FOR THE POOREST COUNTRIES. END COMMENT.)

--------------
CHRISTIAN EUROPE AND RESTRICTIVE RUSSIA
--------------


4. THE POPE USED HIS ADDRESS TO REPEAT THE HOLY SEE'S CALL
FOR CHRISTIANITY AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED
IN A PROPOSED EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION. ACCORDING TO THE
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PAGE 04 VATICA 00135 01 OF 02 141831Z
PONTIFF, THE NEWLY ENLARGED EUROPE IS THE FRUIT AND RECIPIENT
OF CHRISTIAN VALUES. IN RECOGNITION OF THIS FOUNDATION, HE
CALLED FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, STRUCTURES FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN
NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS AND CHURCHES, AND PROTECTION OF ALREADY
GAINED NATIONAL JURIDICAL STATUS AS KEY CONSTITUTIONAL
ELEMENTS TO ASSURE CONTINUED PROTECTION OF RELIGION IN
EUROPE. THE POPE MADE AN IMPASSIONED PLEA FOR RUSSIAN
AUTHORITIES TO ALLOW CATHOLIC CLERGY FREE ACCESS TO CONDUCT
THEIR PASTORAL WORK IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION. HE
UNDERSCORED THAT HE WAS STILL WAITING FOR A FORMAL RESPONSE
FROM RUSSIAN REGARDING ITS REFUSALS OF VISAS TO FOREIGN
PRIESTS AND BISHOPS.

--------------
AFRICA: REASONS TO REJOICE AND DESPAIR
--------------


5. THE POPE GAVE SPECIAL FOCUS TO AFRICA, EXPRESSING
SATISFACTION THAT ANGOLA, BURUNDI, AND THE DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND EVEN SUDAN HAD EMBARKED ON THE PATH OF
PEACE. TO BUILD ON THIS SUCCESS, HE URGED UNDERSTANDING AND

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ5146

PAGE 01 VATICA 00135 02 OF 02 140740Z
ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 DS-00
EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01
VCE-00 NSAE-00 TEST-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 SAS-00
/003W
-------------- 24F408 140741Z /38
P 140715Z JAN 03
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 000135

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PHUM VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: POPE'S MESSAGE TO DIPLOMATIC CORPS FOCUSES ON WAR,
PEACE AND SOLIDARITY AMONG NATIONS

FINANCIAL AID FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. AT THE SAME
TIME, THE POPE LAMENTED THE RECENT VIOLENCE IN IVORY COAST
AND THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CALLING FOR CEASEFIRES AND
DIALOGUE. HE LAUDED THE SUCCESS OF THE AFRICAN UNION AND
REGIONAL MEDIATION IN HELPING AFRICANS TO FIND THEIR OWN
SOLUTIONS TO THE CONTINENT'S PROBLEMS. HE MADE TWO
REFERENCES TO "THE GRAVE PROBLEM OF FAMINE" IN AFRICA -- A
POINT THE EMBASSY HAD SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT TO INSERT IN THE
DIPLOMATIC CORPS DEAN'S ADDRESS TO THE POPE.

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PAGE 02 VATICA 00135 02 OF 02 140740Z
--------------
PLEA FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THE COMMON GOOD
--------------


6. A COMMON THREAD OF THE DISCOURSE WAS THE POPE'S CALL ON
POLITICAL LEADERS TO "SERVE THE COMMON GOOD." HE STRESSED
THAT MORAL CONVICTION WAS ESSENTIAL TO POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
AND CALLED FOR "GOOD GOVERNANCE" THAT WOULD ENSURE MATERIAL
AND SPIRITUAL WELL BEING, REJECT INJUSTICE AND INSTITUTIONAL
CORRUPTION, PROTECT HUMAN FREEDOM AND RIGHTS, AND ENGAGE IN
PUBLIC SERVICE.

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COMMENT
--------------


7. WHILE MEDIA ARE LIKELY TO FOCUS ON THE "NO TO WAR"
PHRASE, THE POPE'S DISCOURSE REMAINED BALANCED ON IRAQ AND
THE MIDDLE EAST, AND AVOIDED DIRECT CRITICISM OF THE U.S. IN
FACT, HIS FOCUS ON RESPECT FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW, WHICH, ON
THE ONE HAND, SEEKS TO ENSURE THE U.S. ACTS WITHIN THE UN
FRAMEWORK, ALSO CLEARLY SUGGESTS THAT THE IRAQ'S AND NORTH
KOREA'S OF THE WORLD NEED TO FOLLOW RULES OF CONDUCT AND
ADHERE TO AGREEMENTS ALREADY SIGNED. IN LIGHT OF OUR ONGOING
DIALOGUE WITH THE HOLY SEE ON AFRICAN FAMINE, WE WELCOMED THE
PONTIFF'S REFERENCES TO FAMINE IN AFRICA, AND HIS OPENING THE
DOOR TO "KNOW HOW" IN RESPONDING TO DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. HIS
BLAST AT CONTINUED VISA PROBLEMS FOR CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN
RUSSIA REFLECTS THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH HE VIEWS THIS
PROBLEM, WHICH HE TERMED A "CRISIS" NOT IN KEEPING WITH
RUSSIA'S DEMOCRATIC ASPIRATIONS. END COMMENT.
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 VATICA 00135 02 OF 02 140740Z

NICHOLSON
SKODON

UNCLASSIFIED

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2003VATICA00135 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED