Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03VATICAN5669
2003-12-22 11:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

HOLY SEE PUSHES FOR DIALOGUE, NEW RELIEF EFFORTS

Tags:  KIRF PHUM PINR PREL SU VT 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 005669 

SIPDIS


DEPT: EUR/WE LEVIN; AF/SPG: SMALL AND RAAD; DRL/IRF: HUSER;
AF/E; AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2013
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PINR PREL SU VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE PUSHES FOR DIALOGUE, NEW RELIEF EFFORTS
IN SUDAN

REF: A. VAT 4461


B. 02 VAT 3638

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 005669

SIPDIS


DEPT: EUR/WE LEVIN; AF/SPG: SMALL AND RAAD; DRL/IRF: HUSER;
AF/E; AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2013
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PINR PREL SU VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE PUSHES FOR DIALOGUE, NEW RELIEF EFFORTS
IN SUDAN

REF: A. VAT 4461


B. 02 VAT 3638

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

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


1. (C) Pope John Paul II challenged Sudanese
bishops on an officialvisit to Rome to expand
their inter-religious dialogue efforts in the
search for peace in Sudan. Vatican officials
focused their attention in particular on newly-
created Cardinal Wako of Khartoum, pressing him
to engage in dialogue. The Pope also proposed
the creation of a new inter-religious agency
for the coordination of humanitarian aid that
could serve to increase cooperation between
faiths, in addition to alleviating some of
the effects of the civil war. Finally, the
Holy See encouraged the bishops to "rekindle
efforts" to establish a Catholic university in
Sudan. With the elevation of Wako and other
moves, the Holy See is signaling its renewed
emphasis on Sudan and its hope of attracting
world attention to the plight of Sudan's
beleaguered people. End Summary.

--------------
Pope Challenges Sudanese Bishops
--------------


2. (C) Pope John Paul II challenged Sudanese
bishops December 15, during their quinquennial
"ad limina" visit to Rome, to expand their
inter-religious dialogue efforts in the search
for peace in Sudan. The Pope applauded the
reactivation of Sudan's Commission
for Inter-religious Dialogue in his official
statement, and Vatican officials reportedly
reinforced this message in their talks with
the bishops. Holy See Sudan Country Director
Lucio Sembrano told us December 11 that newly-
created Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako of
Khartoum was a particular focus of Vatican
efforts. Sembrano said that Wako had
traditionally shown little faith in such inter-
religious ventures, but now had the opportunity
to make a difference -- especially given
his new status as the first
Sudanese Cardinal (ref a).

--------------
But Religious Tensions Will Not Die Easily
--------------


3. (C) Sembrano was unsure of the effect of

Vatican lobbying efforts with Wako. The
Cardinal has been quoted in the press here as
affirming the possibility of peace, but has
also emphasized the way in which "religious
differences have been used almost as a weapon of
war" in the conflict. Our conversations with
Sembrano lead us to believe that, like many
in the Sudanese Church embittered by
dehumanizing treatment of Christians by Islamic
fundamentalists (ref b),Wako would be carrying
a lot of baggage into inter-religious
dialogue. A September interview with
Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro of Juba,
Sudan (published by Rome-based Zenit Catholic
news service, which is well read in Vatican
circles) offered another example of this
mindset. Though Lukudu emphasized the need
to "look ahead," he made it clear that it


was necessary to "confront the injustices"
of the past. He acknowledged the existence
of some variety of views towards Christianity
within the Sudanese Islamic world, but inveighed
against the "fanatical Islam" that is "always
pushing further south." Sembrano in no way
diminished the suffering undergone by Sudanese
Christians, but indicated that dialogue and
cooperation were the Holy See's preferred way
ahead at this point. He said at this
juncture, more strident criticism such as
that of Bishop Macram Max Gassi, pastor-in-exile
of El Obeid and an outspoken critic
of the situation in Sudan, may not
be productive.

--------------
New Inter-Religious Aid Organization Would
Present Opportunities
--------------


4. (SBU) Another piece of the Pope's message was
a proposal for the creation of a new inter-
religious agency for the coordination
of humanitarian aid. Sembrano told us the
Holy See felt such an organization would provide
an opportunity for trust and collaboration with
Muslims and with the Anglican community in Sudan.
He said the Holy See welcomed the participation
of organizations from all faiths, many of which
were in a good position to help, especially in
Southern Sudan. Sembrano did not diminish the
work of existing aid organizations, but suggested
that those who knew the territory would be better
equipped to deal with the particular
challenges Sudan poses to such work.

--------------
Catholic University in Khartoum?
--------------


5. (C) Elsewhere in the address, the Pope also
encouraged the bishops to "rekindle efforts" to
establish a Catholic University in Khartoum.
Sembrano emphasized to us the high priority the
Holy See places on education as a vehicle for the
promotion of mutual understanding and tolerance;
he added that the Khartoum government had been
supportive of the idea of opening a university.
(Note: In the past, Vatican contacts have also
touted education as the best defense against
Islamic fundamentalism in Sudan and
elsewhere (ref b). End note.)

--------------
Financial Accountability
--------------


6. (C) One challenge in the creation of both
the university and new aid organization is that of
financial accountability and efficiency. Sembrano
(protect) indicated that the Sudanese bishops
had, at times in the past, not been good stewards
of their financial resources. Any funding of such
projects would have to be monitored
carefully. The Pope also made this point in his
address to the bishops, calling for "equity and
transparency...[in] all financial matters...with
every effort being made to see that contributions
are truly used for the purposes intended."

--------------
Political Climate
--------------


7. (SBU) Speaking more generally, Sembrano was
critical of the Khartoum government, and outlined
the struggles of the Catholic Church in Sudan.


Among other offenses, he noted that the Church
had not been granted a building permit since the
1960s. Moreover, he said, the government destroys
existing churches, claiming that they lie in the
path of necessary new roads. Still, overall,
Sembrano believed the Sudanese government to be
"less hard" in its policies than it had been in
the past. He was optimistic that a peace agreement
could be worked out before the end of the year.
A key to a lasting peace, he said, would be the
support of churches and other organizations
representative of the Sudanese people.
The Catholic Church, he maintained, was a
stabilizing force in Sudan. According to Sembrano,
the bishops are not pushing for independence
for the south, and would respect the choice of
the population on Sudan's political future as
long as there is freedom of religion for all.

--------------
Humanitarian Situation Grave
--------------


8. (C) The humanitarian situation, especially
in the South, is grave, Sembrano said. Catholic
aid agency Caritas is active, but is restricted
to certain areas of the country. According
to Sembrano, this means that some Sudanese in
remote areas ravaged by the civil war are
essentially condemned to starvation. Sembrano
noted that these injustices are often the result of
the actions of local officials rather than of
Khartoum. Indoctrinated with a hardline Islamist
mindset, they have knee-jerk reactions to those
whom they suspect of undermining their authority.
Also of great concern to the Holy See are the
droves of internally displaced persons who may
return home in the wake of a peace agreement to
find nothing to sustain them.

--------------
Comment: Vatican Increases Emphasis,
Sees Challenges Ahead
--------------


9. (C) Sembrano said the Holy See's creation
of Khartoum Archbishop Wako as Cardinal was
intended to draw attention to the human rights
crisis in Sudan. "The Holy Father wants
to let the Sudanese people know that the Holy
See has not abandoned them," he told us.
According to Sembrano, the Pope also chose this
fall to canonize Daniel Comboni, a former
missionary in Sudan, in order to emphasize the
Vatican's interest in the country.


10. (C) The next step is cooperation --
not just with Muslims, but within the Church.
Sembrano (protect) confided to us that Cardinal
Wako had not been overly cooperative
with the Holy See, failing in the past even to
call on the Apostolic Nuncio (the Vatican's
Ambassador) to Sudan Dominique Mamberti.
Mamberti himself has been preoccupied by the
recent death of his mother, but now,
according to Sembrano, is ready to reach out to
Wako and cooperate to help promote the Holy See's
agenda. With his new status as Cardinal and
increased support and prodding from the Vatican,
Wako may be ready to contribute to
inter-religious cooperation in Sudan. Sembrano
made a point of praising "all the U.S. is doing"
to help bring a lasting peace to the country and
would welcome USG efforts to further the
initiatives outlined above.

Nicholson


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2003VATICA05669 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL