HAITI: HOLY SEE AWAITS NEW NUNCIO

UNCLAS VATICAN 002767 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EUR/WE LEVIN; WHA/CCA: WINKLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CU EAID EFIN ETRD EU HA PHUM PREL VT SUBJECT: HAITI: HOLY SEE AWAITS NEW NUNCIO REF: A. SECSTATE 151861 ¶B. PORT AU PRINCE 1391 ¶C. PORT AU PRINCE 1381 ¶1. (SBU) Holy See Country Director for Haiti Monsignor Giorgio Lingua told us July 15 the Vatican was eager for new Papal Nuncio (Ambassador) Mario Giordano to take the reins in Port au Prince. Giordano was just ordained an archbishop and is due to begin work in Haiti "any day now." Lingua was interested in ref (a) points and some news we passed from refs (b) and (c). He explained to us that without a permanent nuncio in Port au Prince the Holy See had not been getting much political information from Haiti. Giordano, who just finished a tour at the Papal Nunciature to Italy, should remedy the situation, Lingua said. ¶2. (SBU) On the aid/relief front, the Vatican sent Archbishop Paul Cordes, President of the Holy See's clearinghouse for relief efforts, Cor Unum, to Haiti in June. Cor Unum sources told us that Cordes, who often travels to poverty-stricken areas, had been "stunned" by the conditions in the country following the flooding that occurred before his visit. Cordes met with Catholic aid agencies in Port au Prince to discuss rebuilding efforts and has reportedly remained engaged on Haiti since returning to Rome. NICHOLSON NNNN 2004VATICA02767 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED