Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VATICAN261
2006-12-13 17:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:
LEBANON: VATICAN FOCUSED, ENVOY NOT YET NAMED
how-toVZCZCXRO4288 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHSR DE RUEHROV #0261 3471706 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 131706Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0590 INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0014 RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0618
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000261
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA; NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2016
TAGS: LE SOCI PREL VT
SUBJECT: LEBANON: VATICAN FOCUSED, ENVOY NOT YET NAMED
REF: A. A) EMBASSY VATICAN - LARREA TELCONS
B. B) EMBASSY VATICAN - LARREA EMAILS
CLASSIFIED BY: Peter Martin, Pol/Econ Chief, Vatican, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000261
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA; NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2016
TAGS: LE SOCI PREL VT
SUBJECT: LEBANON: VATICAN FOCUSED, ENVOY NOT YET NAMED
REF: A. A) EMBASSY VATICAN - LARREA TELCONS
B. B) EMBASSY VATICAN - LARREA EMAILS
CLASSIFIED BY: Peter Martin, Pol/Econ Chief, Vatican, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) As discussed (ref a),the Holy See should shortly name
a special envoy to Lebanon, most likely former Secretary for
Relations with States and experienced Lebanon hand Cardinal
Jean-Louis Tauran. Meanwhile, Department calls to Papal Nuncio
Sambi in Washington and current Secretary for Relations with
States Mamberti in Vatican City have reinforced Post's lobbying
-- paying off in increased attention to the situation here. A
prominent cardinal who has been monitoring the situation told us
that Mamberti is now very much "focused on the issue" and had
appreciated the call from A/S Welch (ref b). In addition to the
plans to name an envoy (something the Lebanese ambassador here
told us he has also been pushing),the Holy See's public voice
has become louder on the issue. Pope Benedict XVI called on the
people and political leaders of Lebanon December 10 to "build a
nation of dialogue and conviviality and to come together for the
common good". The pope went on to say that he is following
"with deep preoccupation" the events unfolding throughout the
Middle East. The Vatican's daily newspaper, L'Osservatore
Romano, quoted the pontiff in a banner headline on its
Monday-Tuesday edition: "Identify immediate and peaceful
solutions and the justice necessary for Lebanon and the entire
Middle East."
2. (C) Comment: The Holy See is divided internally on how
aggressive to be on Lebanon, including its approach to Syria,
whose ambassador presents his credentials to the pope December
14. A senior Vatican official told Ambassador Rooney that some
within the Vatican MFA favored a harder line on Syria, making it
clear that its actions in the area are destabilizing, while
others were calling for a softer approach. The pope and MFA
officials host Israeli PM Olmert December 13.
ROONEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA; NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2016
TAGS: LE SOCI PREL VT
SUBJECT: LEBANON: VATICAN FOCUSED, ENVOY NOT YET NAMED
REF: A. A) EMBASSY VATICAN - LARREA TELCONS
B. B) EMBASSY VATICAN - LARREA EMAILS
CLASSIFIED BY: Peter Martin, Pol/Econ Chief, Vatican, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) As discussed (ref a),the Holy See should shortly name
a special envoy to Lebanon, most likely former Secretary for
Relations with States and experienced Lebanon hand Cardinal
Jean-Louis Tauran. Meanwhile, Department calls to Papal Nuncio
Sambi in Washington and current Secretary for Relations with
States Mamberti in Vatican City have reinforced Post's lobbying
-- paying off in increased attention to the situation here. A
prominent cardinal who has been monitoring the situation told us
that Mamberti is now very much "focused on the issue" and had
appreciated the call from A/S Welch (ref b). In addition to the
plans to name an envoy (something the Lebanese ambassador here
told us he has also been pushing),the Holy See's public voice
has become louder on the issue. Pope Benedict XVI called on the
people and political leaders of Lebanon December 10 to "build a
nation of dialogue and conviviality and to come together for the
common good". The pope went on to say that he is following
"with deep preoccupation" the events unfolding throughout the
Middle East. The Vatican's daily newspaper, L'Osservatore
Romano, quoted the pontiff in a banner headline on its
Monday-Tuesday edition: "Identify immediate and peaceful
solutions and the justice necessary for Lebanon and the entire
Middle East."
2. (C) Comment: The Holy See is divided internally on how
aggressive to be on Lebanon, including its approach to Syria,
whose ambassador presents his credentials to the pope December
14. A senior Vatican official told Ambassador Rooney that some
within the Vatican MFA favored a harder line on Syria, making it
clear that its actions in the area are destabilizing, while
others were calling for a softer approach. The pope and MFA
officials host Israeli PM Olmert December 13.
ROONEY