POPE'S VISION IN LINE WITH U.S. GOALS IN IRAQ,

UNCLAS VATICAN 000101

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/WE (Levin); NEA/IPA; NEA/RA; DRL/IRF; EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958 N/A

TAGS: PREL PHUM VT
SUBJECT: POPE'S VISION IN LINE WITH U.S. GOALS IN IRAQ,
MIDDLE EAST, AND FIGHT AGAINST TERROR

Ref: Vatican 5643

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

1.In his annual address to the Vatican Diplomatic Corps,
the Pope emphasized the importance of the international
community's working together to help the Iraqis to become
self-governing with a democratically established political
and economic system. Observing that Iraqis had been "freed
from the regime that had oppressed them," he expressed hope
that Iraq would become a credible partner in the
international community. The Pope blasted terrorism and
said that any civilization worthy of the name should
categorically reject the use of such violence. He pointed
to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict as a root of
destabilization for the entire region and urged "respect
for the legitimate aspirations of both sides." The Pope
also emphasized the importance of building a more effective
collective security centered on the United Nations, and
able to deal with the new challenges of terrorism it has
failed thus far to master. End Summary.

--------------
Moving Forward in Iraq
--------------


2. In his annual address to the Vatican Diplomatic Corps,
January 12 (full text sent to EUR/WE),the Pope
acknowledged the "numerous steps" the Holy See had taken in
the hopes of avoiding war in Iraq, but focused on the
importance of the international community's working
together to aid the Iraqi people. The Pope said the
international community should now help the Iraqis, "freed
from the regime that had oppressed them," to become self-
governing with a democratically established political and
economic system. He also called for Iraq to regain a
credible place in the international community.

--------------
No to Terrorism - and no to War
--------------


3. The Pope strongly condemned international terrorism,
asserting that it dishonored the causes it claimed to serve
by sowing the seeds of hatred, fear and fanaticism. He
stressed that any civilization worthy of the name should
categorically reject the use of violence. Significantly,
he told the gathered diplomats that the international
community should never resign itself to "passively
accepting the violence that holds peace hostage." To
counter terrorism, the Pope said that "now more than ever"
it was important to return to a more effective collective
security centered on the United Nations so that it could
fulfill the role envisioned for it. In any event, the Pope
stressed "the one certainty" that "war could not resolve
conflicts between peoples."

--------------
Return to Negotiation in Middle East
--------------

4.The Pontiff described the unresolved Israeli-
Palestinian issue as a permanent destabilizing factor for
the entire region, as well as a source of suffering for
both peoples. He repeated his admonition to Israeli and
Palestinian leaders that nothing is resolved by the
recourse of arms, terrorism and reprisals, or by the
humiliation of the enemy and hateful propaganda. He urged
mutual respect for each entity's legitimate aspirations, as
well as a return to the negotiating table. He said that
concrete efforts on the part of the international community
were essential to achieve a resolution to the conflict.

--------------
Conflicts the World Over Dramatic
--------------


5. Elsewhere in the world, the Pope noted the damaging
effects of other conflicts; in particular in Africa. He
observed that their impact on local populations was often
"dramatic," adding that they contributed to poverty and the
deterioration of the institutional fabric, plunging people
into desperation. The Pope also highlighted the danger of
arms manufacturing and trafficking.

--------------
Religion: An important Role to Play
--------------



6. Not surprisingly, John Paul II stressed the importance
of religious faith as a means to peace. He said that
faith-based respect for inalienable human rights and
dignity helped create a peaceful and peace-making world.
In this regard, he urged secular states to do more than
merely guarantee freedom of worship. Rather, he said,
secular society should engage in a respectful dialogue with
religions to enhance each nation's future. Church and
State are not rivals, said the Pope, but rather partners in
promoting the development of the human person as well as
social harmony. The Pope said the difficulty some European
countries had in accepting religion operating "in the
public sphere" revealed itself in the recent debate on
Europe's Christian roots in the EU constitution. He
insisted that world leaders should see Christians as a
resource -- particularly for the process of "education for
peace," a major theme of his 2004 World Day of Peace
Message (reftel).

--------------
Comment: Message Tracks with U.S. Policy
--------------


7. Though some U.S. critics might seize on the Pope's
rejection of war as a means to resolve conflicts and his
reference to the Vatican's efforts to avoid war, the core
of Pope's message provided strong backing for priority
U.S. goals in Iraq and the Middle East. The Holy See's
preference to avoid war is well known; but its insistence
that the international community should now move forward to
help the Iraqis achieve a democratic self-government now
that they have been "freed from the regime that had
oppressed them" was a very positive message for the U.S.
Similarly, the Pope's emphasis on a central role for the UN
-- though implying criticism of the UN's being sidelined in
Iraq -- reflects the Pope's new interest in revamping
international law to deal with the challenges of global
terrorism. All of this suggests that the U.S. has an
important ally in the Pope for our goals in Iraq, the
Middle East, and against terrorism.


8. Minimize considered.
Nicholson


NNNN


2004VATICA00101 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED