HOLY SEE: MUSLIM ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000248 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS EUR/PGI FOR IVAN WEINSTEIN; EUR/PPD FOR LIZA DAVIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KISL KPAO PGOV PHUM PREL SCUL SOCI VT SUBJECT: HOLY SEE: MUSLIM ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY REF. STATE 185834 VATICAN 00000248 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel, following is Embassy Vatican's Muslim Engagement Strategy. Deputy Chief of Mission Chris Sandrolini will be post's minority-engagement officer. ¶2. (SBU) Begin text: The Holy See is in effect the central government of the Catholic Church. Its head of state, Pope Benedict XVI, is respected and revered by the world's one billion-plus Catholics and many others; his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, was greatly admired by Muslims in particular for leading Catholic efforts to reach out to other faiths, including Islam. Pope Benedict, more reserved than John Paul, distressed some Muslims by comments in his September speech in Regensburg which framed the Islamist terror threat in religious terms. He is a figure of great public visibility and influence, and his approach toward Islam will be of great importance to the United States and Europe. Embassy Vatican seeks to understand and influence the Holy See's interaction with the Muslim world, contributing to closer cooperation between the U.S. and the Holy See to eradicate religiously-inspired terrorism and reduce existing tensions which could lead to violence. Media Environment -------------- --The Holy See commands an extensive public information network. - The Vatican TV Center (CTV) is the Vatican's official TV station which covers nearly all papal events, broadcasting them via international TV feed. - Telepace is affiliated with CTV and is the longest-running full-time Catholic channel; it is currently undergoing significant reorganization. - Vatican Radio, the Holy See's semiofficial radio station, broadcasts to five continents and provides regular programming in 45 languages. - L'Osservatore Romano, a political and religious daily, is considered the Vatican's official news organ. - Vatican Information Service (VIS),a news service founded in the Holy See Press Office, provides information on the activities of the pope and Curia. --The Holy See interacts with local, national, and international media through its Press Office (Sala Stampa) and the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. --Embassy Vatican has developed a healthy relationship with over 100 journalists in the Vatican-focused media corps in and near Rome. --Media entities such as Catholic daily Avvenire, Zenit News Agency, Catholic News Service, the National Catholic Reporter, AsiaNews, SAT 2000 (satellite station of the Italian Bishops' Conference),Famiglia Cristiana, and 30 Giorni provide consistent and in-depth coverage of Vatican-related events and issues. Strategic Goals -------------- ¶1. Understand and influence Holy See approach toward Islamic engagement with Europe and the West (including the United States). Objectives - Improve Holy See understanding of Muslim attitudes and conditions in the United States through DVCs, speaker programs, IVs, and post diplomatic activity. - Educate key contacts (diplomatic and media) about the history and current reality of American Muslims. - Increase contact with those in the Holy See dealing with the Islamic world, engaging in discussions of current affairs and areas of shared interest between the Holy See and the United States. ¶2. Help Holy See become strong U.S. partner in empowering Muslims worldwide to counter Islamic extremism and bolster moderate voices within the Muslim world. Objectives - Work with the Holy See community and other partners (e.g., U.S. embassies in Islamic countries and embassies to the Holy See of Islamic countries) to organize lectures, conferences, and activities addressing common concerns and potential areas for progress between Christians and Muslims. - Monitor and support outreach of Holy See (e.g. through Pontical Council for Interreligious Dialogue) and of lay Catholic groups and NGOs (e.g. Sant'Egidio). Target Audiences -------------- Goal 1. Understand and influence Holy See approach toward Islamic engagement with Europe and the West (including the U.S.). VATICAN 00000248 002.2 OF 002 --Audience: Vatican Curia, particularly foreign ministry and key dicasteries; Vatican-related media; pontifical universities; national bishops' conferences. --Importance: These groups shape the public statements of the pope and senior cardinals, as well as the views of Catholic populations of countries around the world. --Programs/actions: - Public affairs campaign geared to Holy See diplomatic, academic, and media communities on USG outreach efforts to Muslim communities. - Speaking engagements with Vatican-related audiences for leading American Muslims. - Active Embassy Vatican website on Muslim engagement. - DVC with Keith Ellison (D-MN),first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress. - Conference on approaches to integration of Muslim immigrants, in cooperation with embassies to the Holy See from Islamic countries. Goal 2. Help Holy See become strong U.S. partner in empowering Muslims worldwide to counter Islamic extremism and bolster moderate Muslim voices. --Audience: Senior officials in foreign ministry; key journalists; leadership of key dicasteries; relevant scholars. --Importance: These individuals shape and publicly articulate the dominant (as well as contending) views of the Holy See on this issue. --Programs/actions: - DVC on tolerant Islam in Morocco. - One-on-one meetings between key USG officials, faith-based representatives, and/or academic institutional representatives with Vatican interlocutors on Muslim dialogue and religious tolerance. - Develop relationship with appropriate Muslim journalists and writers. Embassy's Top Three Program Priorities -------------- -------------- --DVC on tolerant Islam in Morocco. --DVC with Keith Ellison (D-MN),first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress. --Conference on approaches to integration of Muslim immigrants, in cooperation with embassies to the Holy See from Islamic countries. Measuring Effectiveness -------------- --Size and quality (rank, participation, relevance) of attendance at DVC's and conferences. --Recognition in Vatican media (both coverage and analysis) of themes emphasized in programs. --Supportive citation of these themes and their USG provenance in public commentary -- written and spoken -- of the pope and Curia. --Consistent and committed engagement with Embassy and USG visitors by key Holy See officials on themes emphasized in programs. --(Longer term) Visible cooperation between Holy See and Muslim opinion leaders to support moderate voices in Islamic countries, and to counter extremists. End text. SANDROLINI