Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03VATICAN5666
2003-12-19 16:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

CARDINAL'S IRAQ COMMENTS CREATE DUST-UP

Tags:  IZ PHUM PREL VT 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 005666 

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/WE LEVIN; NEA/RA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2013
TAGS: IZ PHUM PREL VT
SUBJECT: CARDINAL'S IRAQ COMMENTS CREATE DUST-UP

REF: A. VATICAN 5643

B. VATICAN 5321

Classified By: Amb. Jim Nicholson for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).

-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 005666

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/WE LEVIN; NEA/RA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2013
TAGS: IZ PHUM PREL VT
SUBJECT: CARDINAL'S IRAQ COMMENTS CREATE DUST-UP

REF: A. VATICAN 5643

B. VATICAN 5321

Classified By: Amb. Jim Nicholson for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) During the presentation of the Pope's World Day of
Peace message December 17 (ref a),Cardinal Renato Martino,
President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace,
caused a stir with comments critical of U.S. treatment of
Saddam Hussein following his capture. Media gave wide
attention to Martino's assertion that he felt "compassion"
for Saddam and that the U.S. had treated him "like a cow" by
filming and displaying his medical examination. Many media
mistakenly suggested that this first public reaction to the
arrest of Saddam by a Vatican official reflected an official
Vatican view. The Ambassador registered U.S. concern with
Martino's characterization with Vatican Foreign Minister
Lajolo, and in writing to Secretary of State Sodano. A
number of senior officials, including former FM Tauran, have
conveyed their displeasure with Martino's comments to the
Ambassador. Martino was outspoken in his opposition to the
Iraq war, and had to be reigned in earlier this year.
Embassy has urged the Holy See to clarify its official view
to repair the public impression generated by Martino's
ill-advised comments. End Summary.

--------------
Martino Sounds Off
--------------


2. (C) During the presentation of the Pope's World Day of
Peace message December 17 (ref a),Cardinal Renato Martino,
President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace,
whose responsibility it is to present the annual message to
the media, caused a stir with several off the cuff comments
critical of U.S. actions connected to the arrest of Saddam.
Martino, the former Holy See Permanent Observer at the UN in
New York, had been outspoken in his criticism of U.S. policy
in the run-up to the Iraq war, often diverging from the more
moderate and nuanced views of the Pope. Though at that time
a private rebuke from then Foreign Minister Tauran may have
quieted Martino, yesterday's occasion presented the
opportunity for him to grab some headlines again, offering
the first substantial reaction by a Vatican official to the
capture and detention of Saddam.


--------------
"Treated like a Cow"
--------------


3. (SBU) While Martino allowed that the Holy See "hopes this
capture . . . may contribute to the pacification and
democratization of Iraq," he also voiced displeasure at the
broadcast of TV images showing a bedraggled Saddam undergoing
a medical examination shortly after his detention. "What
caused me pain was seeing this ruined man, treated like a cow
whose teeth are being examined. They could have spared us
those pictures," he said. "I felt compassion for him."
Martino described Saddam as "a man of tragedy," with heavy
responsibilities for the crimes he committed. Martino added
several negative comments on the war, saying that "it would
be illusory to think that (the capture of Saddam would)
repair the damage caused by that great defeat for humanity
which war always represents." In remarks more reflective of
the Holy See's general outlook on events, the Cardinal added
that the Vatican wanted Saddam to receive a fair trial for
alleged crimes during his long dictatorship. He said that,
as in other cases, the Vatican is opposed to the death
penalty in this instance.
--------------
Media Picks up Martino's Rant
--------------


4. (SBU) Martino's comments trumped the release of the World
Peace Day message -- certainly not good form to upstage a
Papal message -- and received prominent play in the media.
Most media, rather than highlighting the Pope's message
calling for an international effort to update international
legal mechanisms to deal with problems posed by terrorism,
highlighted the Vatican "rebuke" to the U.S. and its
"compassion" for Saddam. The Vatican's official newspaper,
while highlighting the attacks that folowed the arrest, also
said that the dictator's detention widened the prospects for
an era of peace, justice and normal life in Iraq. The
Italian Bishops' Conference daily Avvenire's front-page
headline, "Safer with Saddam in Shackles," reflected the now

oft-enunciated relistic position on Iraq (ref b) of the
Pope's Viar for Rome, Cardinal Camillo Ruini. (Note: As
resident of the Italian Bishops Conference, Ruini is
responsible for the editorial tone of Avvenire. End note.)

-------------- --
Ambassador Registers Complaint with Vatican MFA
-------------- --


5. (C) Folowing Martino's outburst, the Ambassador met with
Holy See Foreign Minister equivalent Giovanni Lajolo December
17 to register U.S. displeasure with Martino,s comments.
The Ambassador said the characterization of poor treatment of
Saddam was simply untrue, and the Cardinal's statements had
served both to obscure the Pope's World Peace Day message and
to confuse the U.S. government and public about who was
speaking for the Vatican. He noted that media had widely
reported the remarks as Vatican comments, and showed Lajolo a
copy of a New York Times article reprinted in the
International Herald Tribune.


6. (C) Lajolo was deferential, but surprisingly unmoved by
the Ambassador's concerns. He described Martino,s comments
as personal views, adding that it was the media,s job -- and
that of the U.S. Embasy -- to be sure the public and USG
were aware ofthe distinction between a personal statement
andan official statement from the Holy See. He was nt
receptive to the Ambassador,s suggestion that te Vatican
ought to release an official statementon Saddam,s capture,
in order to be clear who was speaking for the Vatican, and
resolve any confusion on the Holy See,s position. Lajolo
said the better idea was to "let the matter drop" and not
continue the controversy. He went on to say that he agreed
that the images of Saddam should not have been broadcast as
they had been. According to Lajolo, the U.S. had not treated
Saddam "as a person and as a former head of state" should be
treated, his previous crimes notwithstanding. (Note: The
Vatican made similar protests when captured troops, and
bodies of slain U.S. soldiers were displayed by Iraqis during
the war. End note).

--------------
Fallout May Continue
--------------


7. (C) In conversations with Vatican contacts December 17,
the Ambassador learned that there was substantial
dissatisfaction with Martino's remarks within the Curia.
Many disagreed sharply with the content of the comments, and
also questioned the appropriateness of Martino's airing them
to the media -- and stealing the limelight from the Pope's
World Peace Day message. We also learned that Martino's
Justice and Peace Council has been receiving numerous faxes
and e-mails complaining about the Cardinal's statement.
Former Foreign Minister Tauran (protect),who since the Iraq
War has stepped into a less visible position but still has
pull in the Vatican, told the Ambassador he was incensed with
Martino's display, and surprised at Lajolo's reaction to the
affair. The Ambassador has communicated with Secretary of
State Sodano on the matter (text of letter faxed to EUR/WE)
and plans to see him in person next week.

--------------
Comment: What's Going on Here?
--------------


8. (C) Cardinal Martino, long a thorn in the U.S. side on
war and peace issues (though a staunch ally in educating the
public on genetically modified food),has likely been aching
to get his two cents in on U.S. policy in Iraq since he was
silenced in the run-up to the Iraq war. Having been created
a Cardinal in the meantime, and now presented with an
opportunity to comment on the issue before the media, he
could not resist. A contact who works with Martino told us
that he thought Martino was also smarting from having his
draft of the Peace Day Message turnedback by the Secretariat
of State as too inflammaory (ref a). Faced with media
questions as to wy the message had been changed, he may have
been rying to save face, while getting some media play.


9. (C) Despite the perception of the Vatican breaucracy as
high on authority and discipline --which is generally the
case on religious issues - the reality is quite different
when it comes topolitical matters. With regard to the
latter, mny Cardinals feel free to air their personal views
and rarely face reprimand. In this instance, the
free-lancing has created a damaging public impression that
some would like to see corrected. While fellow Vatican
officials are loathe to criticize one of their own, it is
clear that many within the Curia find such ill-considered

statements to the press to be a hindrance in promoting the
Holy See's international goals. We will continue to press
this point with the Holy See in the hopes that Martino and
others will seek a "Nihil Obstat" before opening their mouths
on such sensitive issues in the future.


10. (U) Minimize considered.

NICHOLSON


NNNN


2003VATICA05666 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL