Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VATICAN243
2006-11-24 13:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

VATICAN OFFICIAL PESSIMISTIC ABOUT PRC - HOLY SEE RELATIONS

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PINR PREL CH HK VT 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7782
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHROV #0243 3281330
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 241330Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0563
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0019
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG PRIORITY 0001
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0591
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000243 

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DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA, EAP AND EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL CH HK VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN OFFICIAL PESSIMISTIC ABOUT PRC - HOLY SEE RELATIONS

REF: A) VATICAN 00185 B) VATICAN 00155 C) VATICAN 00212 D) HONG KONG 004288

CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher J. Sandrolini, Charge, AMEMB VATICAN,
STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000243

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SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA, EAP AND EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL CH HK VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN OFFICIAL PESSIMISTIC ABOUT PRC - HOLY SEE RELATIONS

REF: A) VATICAN 00185 B) VATICAN 00155 C) VATICAN 00212 D) HONG KONG 004288

CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher J. Sandrolini, Charge, AMEMB VATICAN,
STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (C) Summary: Holy See MFA Country Director for PRC Monsignor
Rota-Graziosi is pessimistic about the chances for a break
through on Holy See-PRC relations. Rota-Graziosi did not see
the recent release of jailed Bishop An Shuxin as significant and
was unfazed by reports indicating An had registered with the
Patriotic Church. Rota-Graziosi's views are more pessimistic
than those of the Holy See's de facto special envoy to the PRC,
Archbishop Claudio Celli. This may indicate a philosophical
split between the MFA and Celli, who operates largely outside
the MFA's control. End Summary

-------------- ---
Official Pessimistic on Holy See - PRC Relations
-------------- ---


2. (C) Holy See MFA Country Director for the Peoples Republic
of China (PRC) Monsignor Gianfranco Rota-Graziosi told PolOffs
November 15 that he was pessimistic about any movement on
diplomatic relations between the PRC and the Holy See.
Rota-Graziosi, who traveled with Archbishop Claudio Celli to the
PRC last July (see refs A and B),said there has been little
movement on the issues dividing the two sides since the trip.
According to Rota-Graziosi, PRC officials periodically intimate
that a breakthrough is possible, but in the end, always fall
back on the two main "obstacles" to progress: the Holy See's
relationship with Taiwan, and its desire to control the naming
of bishops.


3. (C) Rota-Graziosi repeated what is common knowledge: the Holy
See would downgrade its relationship with Taiwan "overnight"
with the right word from Beijing. In previous conversations we
have heard Holy See officials express confidence that if Beijing
had the will, the two sides could work out an agreement for
naming bishops - perhaps such as the compromise arrangement in
effect in Vietnam. The Chinese create the impression of progress
in relations, but, in reality, nothing is happening. "They lead
us around like a dog in a courtyard - it seems like we are going
somewhere, but we never get anywhere," he concluded.

--------------
Bishop An Shuxin Controversy: "Insignificant"
--------------


4. (C) Rota-Graziosi did not see the recent release of jailed
Bishop An Shuxin as particularly significant (ref C). His
release means little, if anything, for Holy See-PRC relations
said Rota-Graziosi. "The PRC releases someone and then they
arrest others," he commented. Rota-Graziosi added that some in
the underground church would probably have preferred that An
remained in jail and serve as a martyr for the Church. As for
reports that An may have unwittingly joined the Patriotic
Church, Rota-Graziosi was unruffled. "If An was duped into
signing a document registering with the Patriotic Association
prior to his release, we wouldn't hold it against him - we know
that if it's true, he was tricked into it by the government," he
said.

--------------
Comment: Divergence Among Vatican Officials?
--------------


5. (C) When evaluating Rota-Graziosi's opinions one must keep
in mind he is generally pessimistic. He has covered these
issues since 1988 and the frustrations of false starts and
dashed hopes in this relationship have clearly worn on him.
When we asked hopefully if the lack of illicit ordinations by
the PRC since his July trip was a good sign, he told us he wakes
up every morning and readies himself to see a newspaper article
reporting just such an ordination. While recently-departed
Vatican FM Giovanni Lajolo sounded a lot like Rota-Graziosi on
China, the Holy See's de facto special envoy to the PRC,
Archbishop Claudio Celli (ref B),has had much more optimistic
views when we've consulted him. This may indicate a
philosophical split between the MFA and Celli, a career
diplomat, but one who is currently operating with more autonomy
in a special position not directly controlled by the MFA.
Vatican policy on China will now begin to take shape under new
Secretary of State (Prime Minister equivalent) Bertone and

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Foreign Minister equivalent Mamberti, in office only since
October.

SANDROLINI