LEBANON: POPE SPEAKS OUT AGAIN; HOLY SEE RESPONDING TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000149

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/24/2016
TAGS: MOPS LE IS PHUM VT
SUBJECT: LEBANON: POPE SPEAKS OUT AGAIN; HOLY SEE RESPONDING TO
HUMANITARIAN NEEDS

REF: VATICAN 134, 142, 143, 145 146

VATICAN 00000149 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Peter Martin, Pol/Econ Chief, Vatican, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



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Summary

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1. (C) Benedict XVI emphasized the rights and plights of
Lebanese and Israelis July 23 while addressing the current
crisis in the Middle East. Though the Holy See has expressed to
us privately its support for a "robust" multi-national force,
the pope stopped short of saying so Sunday. The Holy See is
focused on the issue, with FM-equivalent Lajolo fully engaged.
Our contacts and Vatican-based media report that
Vatican-affiliated charitable organizations are key partners in
relief efforts connected to the crisis, particularly in Lebanon.
End Summary.

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Benedict Speaks Again

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2. (C) Benedict XVI repeated aspects of the Holy See's take
on the current situation in Lebanon July 23, emphasizing the
right of the Lebanese people to a free and sovereign country,
the right of Israelis to live in peace, and the right of the
Palestinian people to a free and sovereign homeland. Though the
Holy See has expressed to us privately its support for a
"robust" multi-national force (reftels),Benedict did not
explicitly say so Sunday, simply calling for an immediate
ceasefire, the provision of humanitarian aid and for the start
of negotiations supported by the international community.

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Victims on Both Sides

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3. (U) The pope expressed his concern Sunday for the innocent
civilian victims on both sides of the current conflict,
mentioning "those of Galilee, obliged to live in shelters, as
well as the great multitude of Lebanese, who once more, see
their country destroyed, and have to leave everything behind to
try to save themselves in another place."

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Vatican-Affiliated Relief Efforts

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4. (U) The pope urged relief organizations to do their utmost
to deliver aid to the populations most affected by the violence.
Our contacts (and Vatican-based media) report that
Vatican-affiliated charitable organizations are at the forefront
of relief efforts, particularly in Lebanon. Caritas-Lebanon has
been supplying food, medicines, soap, milk and baby products to
some 25,000 people. The organization is also trucking drinking
water and food to different parts of the country. Local Caritas
officials report difficulties in communication between teams
located throughout Lebanon due to damage to roads and bridges,
and telecommunications infrastructure.


5. (U) Caritas Lebanon has mobilized a fleet of mobile health
clinics around the country, which are visiting schools and other
shelters, bringing aid to children, the old and the sick.
Religious orders in Lebanon have opened their schools,
monasteries and other facilities to provide shelter to refugees,
but are hampered by dwindling supplies and sky-rocketing prices
for fuel and other essentials. Caritas has opened an appeal for
some $1.5 million to fund its relief effort, as well as an
additional $175,000 to help the Caritas Migrants Center, which
assists vulnerable foreign workers and refugees in the country.
In some cases, the Migrants Center is helping with repatriating
migrants through Syria, in coordination with Caritas Sri Lanka.

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Comment

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6. (C) The Vatican's public comments on the crisis have been
much more balanced since the initial statement by Cardinal
Secretary of State Sodano July 14. The Holy See MFA equivalent

SIPDIS
is focused on the situation, with FM Lajolo fully engaged and
the Vatican's Middle East experts scrapping their plans to
return home for summer vacation to provide support.


7. (SBU) The Holy See's geopolitical concern for the situation
in Lebanon and Israel is backed up by its humanitarian relief
efforts on the ground. Our contacts emphasize that the various
national Caritas organizations, along with local Catholic
religious orders and parishes, are well-established and trusted
by the civilian populations. They continue to be key partners
in international relief efforts.
SANDROLINI