VENEZUELA: VATICAN NOT READY TO CHANGE TACTICS

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000508 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (CUNNINGHAM); WHA/AND (FRIEDMAN) E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/10/2015 TAGS: VT VE PREL PGOV KIRF PHUM SUBJECT: VENEZUELA: VATICAN NOT READY TO CHANGE TACTICS REF: A. A) VATICAN 489 ¶B. B) MARTIN- MCISAAC JULY 20 EMAIL ¶C. C) CARACAS 2206 ¶D. D) CARACAS 2258 ¶E. E) CARACAS 2326 CLASSIFIED BY: Peter Martin, POL, Vatican, State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Holy See Deputy Foreign Minister Parolin affirmed to the Charge August 9 the Vatican's preference for outreach and dialogue with President Chavez rather than confrontation. Parolin took the same approach he had in a June 30 meeting with Post's former Charge on the subject (ref a),despite the recent Church-State tensions in Venezuela (ref c, d). Parolin clearly did not believe recent events called for a change in the Vatican's approach on Venezuela and indicated that the Holy See was not pleased that Cardinal Castillo Lara had spoken out against Chavez and the government as he did, regardless of Chavez's role in the controversy. Focusing on Chavez's treatment of the Church and his broader abuses, we will continue to encourage the Holy See to take a harder line on his government. There may also be a further opportunity for movement on this issue if Pope Benedict names a new secretary of state (prime minister equivalent) in the fall, as he is rumored to do. However, it will be difficult in this instance to shake the Vatican from its preference for dialogue over confrontation, even if the local Church is becoming more aggressive. End Summary. -------------- -------------- Vatican Favors Outreach, Despite Recent Controversy -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Holy See Deputy Foreign Minister equivalent Monsignor Pietro Parolin affirmed to the Charge (during his August 9 welcome call) the Vatican's preference for outreach and dialogue with President Chavez rather than confrontation. Parolin took the same approach he had in a June 30 meeting with Post's former Charge on the subject (ref a). This also tracked with what we have heard at other times recently from the Vatican's secretariat of state (ref a, b) despite the recent war of words SIPDIS between Chavez and Cardinal Castillo Lara and other Church-State tensions (ref c,d). -------------- "He's no Saint, but~" -------------- ¶3. (C) Charge noted Chavez's harsh treatment of the cardinal and emphasized broader U.S. concerns on Venezuela. Parolin, however, clearly did not believe recent events called for a change in Vatican's approach on Venezuela. In fact, he indicated that the Holy See was not pleased that Castillo Lara had spoken out as he did, regardless of Chavez's role in the controversy. "We aren't happy with the situation," Parolin said. "This back and forth in the media cannot help matters. Everyone knows who Chavez is. We're not saying he's a saint, but we have to deal with him." Parolin remains convinced that Chavez hopes to have a better relationship with the Church, his recent diatribes notwithstanding. And the Vatican plans to give him more than a chance. "As I told [the former Charge], we fear that a confrontational approach with drive Chavez even further into the arms of Castro (ref a)." ¶4. (C) The Charge cited Embassy Caracas's outreach to Venezuelan Church leaders (ref e) and Ambassador Brownfield's interest in meeting the nuncio (ref d, e) as a step toward greater Vatican involvement in support of the Venezuelan Church. Parolin did not comment. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Parolin is concerned about Chavez and his effects on Venezuela and the region. He took notice when the Charge told him that Chavez, making baseless claims, had just announced the severing of the USG's long-standing counter-narcotics relationship with Venezuela. Focusing on Chavez's treatment of the Church and his broader abuses, we will continue to encourage the Holy See to take a harder line on his government. We will also work with Holy See Country Director for Venezuela Nicolas Thevenin, who has taken a somewhat harder line than Parolin on Chavez in the past. There may also be a further opportunity for movement on this issue if Pope Benedict names a new secretary of state (prime minister equivalent) in the fall, as he is rumored to do. There have been signs that the current secretariat of state is not working in full harmony with other parts of the Vatican, including the papacy. ¶6. (C) However, it will be difficult in this instance to shake the Vatican from its preference for dialogue over confrontation, even if the local Church is becoming more aggressive. While the Holy See is not likely at this point to call down Castillo Lara, Archbishop Porras, or the Venezuelan bishops when they criticize Chavez, it will try its best to stay above the fray. Parolin remains convinced that the confrontational approach taken by former nuncio to Venezuela Andre Dupuy was unproductive (ref a). "Dialogue is our policy, as much as possible," Parolin concluded. SANDROLINI NNNN