Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VATICAN213
2006-10-11 08:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:
HOLY SEE: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS STRONG MESSAGE ON NICARAGUA,
how-toVZCZCXRO5352 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHSR DE RUEHROV #0213/01 2840853 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 110853Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0514 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0542
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000213
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2016
TAGS: PREL VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS STRONG MESSAGE ON NICARAGUA,
CUBA
REF: SCHIFFER-SANDROLINI EMAILS; (B) REGAN-SANDROLINI EMAIL; (C) BRENNAN-SANDROLINI EMAIL
VATICAN 00000213 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher Sandrolini, Deputy Chief of Mission,
EXEC, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000213
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2016
TAGS: PREL VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS STRONG MESSAGE ON NICARAGUA,
CUBA
REF: SCHIFFER-SANDROLINI EMAILS; (B) REGAN-SANDROLINI EMAIL; (C) BRENNAN-SANDROLINI EMAIL
VATICAN 00000213 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher Sandrolini, Deputy Chief of Mission,
EXEC, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)
1. (C) Summary. Ambassador delivered a strong message to the
Holy See concerning the unhelpful activities of Nicaraguan
Cardinal Obando, and also pressed on Cuba. Vatican deputy
foreign minister listened carefully and promised to see what
could be done regarding Obando, but remained noncommittal on
Cuba. End summary.
--------------
Nicaragua
--------------
2. (SBU) Ambassador Rooney called on Monsignor Pietro Parolin,
the Holy See's Undersecretary for Relations with States
(equivalent to deputy foreign minister),on October 10 to
discuss issues in Nicaragua and Cuba. Also present were DCM and
Monsignor Paolo Gualtieri.
3. (C) Ambassador told Parolin that he knew Nicaragua quite
well, along with a number of prominent people there, and felt
developments in that country personally. It is painful, he
said, to see the politicized actions of Cardinal Obando y Bravo.
Obando -- once so heroic but now openly supporting the
Sandinistas - has become the subject of many ugly and widespread
rumors which are harming the image of the Catholic Church in
Nicaragua. The ambassador strongly urged Parolin to find a way
to persuade Obando to stop this activity.
4. (C) Parolin responded that the papal nuncio had informed him
earlier in the summer of Obando's political activities, but he
registered the concern of the United States as something of
additional gravity. He warned that cardinals, particularly
retired ones, have considerable autonomy, and it would not be
easy for the Holy See to bring him around. He also recalled
Obando's celebrated past. However, Parolin readily acknowledged
that it is the standard position of the Church to remain apart
from politics, and he promised to look into what could be done.
5. (C) Parolin said it was his impression that the Sandinistas
were favored to win the elections next month, and wondered to
what extent the Sandinistas had really changed (for example, in
seeming more respectful of religion). Ambassador said the
election would certainly be close, and that leopards don't
change their spots. Parolin laughed but said the Holy See felt
the change was at least partly genuine.
--------------
Cuba
--------------
6. (C) Ambassador told Parolin the USG believes the Cuban people
only should decide on their form of government, and that we of
course hoped to see freedom and democracy emerge there. The
Catholic Church has an important role to play in this time of
transition. DCM provided Parolin with information about the
Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba, clarifying that it was
not in any way a plan or blueprint to be imposed, but rather an
elaboration of U.S. policy for assistance to a democratic
government. The ambassador observed that a mishandled
transition could have potentially disastrous consequences, such
as enormous flows of refugees and internal chaos.
7. (C) Parolin agreed that all countries, certainly including
Cuba, had the right to freedom and to an independent choice of
government. However, he cautioned on the need for patience,
noting that the Holy See does not use the word "transition" when
speaking of Cuba; change in Cuba will not be easy, and a gradual
approach will help prevent violence. The Church finds itself in
a delicate position, and prefers to remain neutral. Parolin
recalled something Raul Castro had told the papal nuncio during
Fidel's incapacitation: that "revolution is to change what most
VATICAN 00000213 002.2 OF 002
needs to be changed". The Holy See had taken this as a
promising hint that Raul might be ready to accelerate reforms.
Parolin also noted that the Holy See remains firmly opposed to
embargos, including the US embargo on Cuba.
--------------
Comment
--------------
8. (C) Parolin took the message on Nicaragua seriously, despite
his caveats. Embassy Managua may wish to check in with the
papal nuncio there in the next few days to verify that he has
received guidance concerning Cardinal Obando. On Cuba, the Holy
See remains in agreement with the USG on desirable outcomes, but
also remains distinctly reluctant to say anything public about a
transition.
ROONEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2016
TAGS: PREL VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS STRONG MESSAGE ON NICARAGUA,
CUBA
REF: SCHIFFER-SANDROLINI EMAILS; (B) REGAN-SANDROLINI EMAIL; (C) BRENNAN-SANDROLINI EMAIL
VATICAN 00000213 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher Sandrolini, Deputy Chief of Mission,
EXEC, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)
1. (C) Summary. Ambassador delivered a strong message to the
Holy See concerning the unhelpful activities of Nicaraguan
Cardinal Obando, and also pressed on Cuba. Vatican deputy
foreign minister listened carefully and promised to see what
could be done regarding Obando, but remained noncommittal on
Cuba. End summary.
--------------
Nicaragua
--------------
2. (SBU) Ambassador Rooney called on Monsignor Pietro Parolin,
the Holy See's Undersecretary for Relations with States
(equivalent to deputy foreign minister),on October 10 to
discuss issues in Nicaragua and Cuba. Also present were DCM and
Monsignor Paolo Gualtieri.
3. (C) Ambassador told Parolin that he knew Nicaragua quite
well, along with a number of prominent people there, and felt
developments in that country personally. It is painful, he
said, to see the politicized actions of Cardinal Obando y Bravo.
Obando -- once so heroic but now openly supporting the
Sandinistas - has become the subject of many ugly and widespread
rumors which are harming the image of the Catholic Church in
Nicaragua. The ambassador strongly urged Parolin to find a way
to persuade Obando to stop this activity.
4. (C) Parolin responded that the papal nuncio had informed him
earlier in the summer of Obando's political activities, but he
registered the concern of the United States as something of
additional gravity. He warned that cardinals, particularly
retired ones, have considerable autonomy, and it would not be
easy for the Holy See to bring him around. He also recalled
Obando's celebrated past. However, Parolin readily acknowledged
that it is the standard position of the Church to remain apart
from politics, and he promised to look into what could be done.
5. (C) Parolin said it was his impression that the Sandinistas
were favored to win the elections next month, and wondered to
what extent the Sandinistas had really changed (for example, in
seeming more respectful of religion). Ambassador said the
election would certainly be close, and that leopards don't
change their spots. Parolin laughed but said the Holy See felt
the change was at least partly genuine.
--------------
Cuba
--------------
6. (C) Ambassador told Parolin the USG believes the Cuban people
only should decide on their form of government, and that we of
course hoped to see freedom and democracy emerge there. The
Catholic Church has an important role to play in this time of
transition. DCM provided Parolin with information about the
Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba, clarifying that it was
not in any way a plan or blueprint to be imposed, but rather an
elaboration of U.S. policy for assistance to a democratic
government. The ambassador observed that a mishandled
transition could have potentially disastrous consequences, such
as enormous flows of refugees and internal chaos.
7. (C) Parolin agreed that all countries, certainly including
Cuba, had the right to freedom and to an independent choice of
government. However, he cautioned on the need for patience,
noting that the Holy See does not use the word "transition" when
speaking of Cuba; change in Cuba will not be easy, and a gradual
approach will help prevent violence. The Church finds itself in
a delicate position, and prefers to remain neutral. Parolin
recalled something Raul Castro had told the papal nuncio during
Fidel's incapacitation: that "revolution is to change what most
VATICAN 00000213 002.2 OF 002
needs to be changed". The Holy See had taken this as a
promising hint that Raul might be ready to accelerate reforms.
Parolin also noted that the Holy See remains firmly opposed to
embargos, including the US embargo on Cuba.
--------------
Comment
--------------
8. (C) Parolin took the message on Nicaragua seriously, despite
his caveats. Embassy Managua may wish to check in with the
papal nuncio there in the next few days to verify that he has
received guidance concerning Cardinal Obando. On Cuba, the Holy
See remains in agreement with the USG on desirable outcomes, but
also remains distinctly reluctant to say anything public about a
transition.
ROONEY