HOLY SEE: BACKGROUND ON MEETING OF SUDANESE PRESIDENT WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000135 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/26/2017 TAGS: PREL VT SUBJECT: HOLY SEE: BACKGROUND ON MEETING OF SUDANESE PRESIDENT WITH POPE BENEDICT XVI CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher Sandrolini, DCM, EXEC, State. REASON: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. The Holy See's point man on Sudan provided DCM September 26 with some background to the recent meeting of Sudanese President Bashir with Pope Benedict XVI; the meeting went well, according to the Vatican. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) DCM spoke briefly September 26 with Monsignor Francesco Cavina, the Holy See's director for Southern Africa, concerning the September 14 visit to the Vatican of Sudanese President Omar Bashir. During the visit Bashir met with Pope Benedict XVI and the Secretary for Relations with States (i.e., foreign minister),Archbishop Dominique Mamberti -- who formerly served as apostolic nuncio in Khartoum. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Secretary of State (who normally meets with visiting heads of SIPDIS state) was unavailable due to foreign travel. ¶3. (U) The Holy See released a communique after the visit noting that Bashir had been received by the Pope at the summer residence in Castelgandolfo. The communique stated that "discussions focused on the country's political and religious situation, with particular reference to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and to the situation in Darfur. On this matter, very positive views were expressed concerning fresh peace negotiations for Darfur, due to be held October 27 in Libya." After expressing the Holy See's hopes for a successful outcome in Libya, the communique added that other subjects of joint interest were considered, including defense of life and of the family, human rights including religious freedom, inter-religious dialogue, and the importance of cooperation between believers of all religions ("in particular Christians and Muslims") for peace and common good. The communique concluded with a reiteration of the positive role of the Catholic Church and its institutions in Sudanese society, especially in education. ¶4. (C) Cavina said the visit had been at Bashir's request, and had been encouraged by Sudan's Catholic bishops, something of a turnabout from past years. Apart from peace talks, the meetings at the Holy See also focused on demarcating boundaries between north and south Sudan, and in difficulties of conducting a census to facilitate elections and a referendum on the country's fundamental structure. Cavina said Bashir seemed preoccupied with sanctions, returning to the subject several times and expressing fear of the harm they would cause the people. (He added that Bashir was doubtless also worried about the effect of sanctions on his government.) ¶6. (C) According to Cavina, the situation regarding religious freedom in Sudan is better than in the past. However, it remains often difficult or impossible to obtain permission to build churches or schools. Interfaith dialogue is healthy in Sudan, especially in the predominantly Christian south where extended families often include members of different religions. Muslim leaders recognize the good efforts of the Catholic Church, and government officials are coming to consider the Church as one of the few avenues towards a viable solution of the country's problems of coexistence. In general, Cavina felt that Bashir had made a good impression during his visit. ¶7. (SBU) Comment: this was a brief meeting, but Cavina was quite open. Embassy will follow up on Sudan and other African issues in the near future. SANDROLINI