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