Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07VATICAN20
2007-01-18 16:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:
VATICAN: VIETNAM AND CHINA CHURCH ISSUES FRONT AND CENTER
how-toVZCZCXRO1749 OO RUEHCN RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHGH RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHSR RUEHVC DE RUEHROV #0020 0181656 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O P 181656Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0633 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0022 RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI PRIORITY 0013 RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY PRIORITY 0001 RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0661
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000020
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/18/2017
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV CM VM VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN: VIETNAM AND CHINA CHURCH ISSUES FRONT AND CENTER
REF: A) VATICAN 0004 B) VATICAN 0005
CLASSIFIED BY: Peter G. Martin, A/DCM, AMEMB VATICAN, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000020
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/18/2017
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV CM VM VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN: VIETNAM AND CHINA CHURCH ISSUES FRONT AND CENTER
REF: A) VATICAN 0004 B) VATICAN 0005
CLASSIFIED BY: Peter G. Martin, A/DCM, AMEMB VATICAN, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: The Holy See intends to hold meetings on
January 19 and 20 with key Catholic officials to formulate a
common policy toward China in response to the recent illicit
ordinations by the GoC. In related news, unofficial Vatican
sources have confirmed that Pope Benedict will receive
Vietnamese Prime Minister D?ng on January 25 in the first-ever
meeting between a GoV official and a pope. Dung's visit is an
important building block in the establishment of full relations
between Vietnam and the Holy See, but is likely part of a
lengthy process rather than a move that will lead to an
overnight breakthrough. End Summary.
-------------- --------------
Holy See Meets to Formulate Common Policy toward China
-------------- --------------
2. (C) The Holy See's Press Office announced January 18 that
the Holy See will convene a meeting Friday and Saturday, January
19 and 20, to consider the situation of the Catholic Church in
China. The meeting will be presided over by Cardinal Secretary
of State Bertone and will, according to our sources, include
other members of the Secretariat of State, the Congregation for
the Evangelization of Peoples, along with high level Church
officials from China including Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong.
3. (C) Vatican-affiliated China expert Father Bernardo
Cervellera, editor of Asia News Service, told PolOff January 18
that the purpose of the meeting is to form a common policy
toward China in light of recent events including the last
illicit ordination which occurred in December 2006. Cervellera
opines that the Holy See meeting is to determine, inter alia,
how to treat the bishops ordained illicitly and how to address
China's role in these events. Cervellera believes one outcome
of the meetings will be the creation of a permanent commission
to deal with Chinese issues.
-------------- --------------
Holy See - Vietnam: Another Step Toward Diplomatic Relations?
-------------- --------------
4. (C) According to Asia News, unofficial Vatican sources have
confirmed that Pope Benedict will receive Vietnamese Prime
Minister Nguy?n T?n D?ng on January 25 in what is the first
meeting between a top government official from that country and
a pope. The unofficial sources indicate the GoV confirmed
January 18 the original date of January 25 to the Vatican.
5. (C) Cervellera told PolOff January 18 that Vietnam wants to
use this visit to bolster their image within the world community
and to encourage investment and foreign assistance from the
outside by demonstrating that Vietnam is modernizing and
becoming more liberal. Cervellera expects this visit to be an
important building block in the normalization of diplomatic
relations between the Holy See and Vietnam.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The confirmed visit by the Vietnamese Prime Minister to
the Vatican is a significant step in the continuing improvement
of relations between the Holy See and Vietnam. Seen in the
context of the Holy See's continuing outreach to the GoV (a
March 2007 delegation to Vietnam will continue the Vatican's
efforts on this front),the meeting could edge the two sides
closer to the establishment of full diplomatic relations.
7. (C) We expect the process to establish diplomatic relations
between Vietnam and the Holy See, however, to be lengthy. As is
the case with China, there are intermediate steps that would
likely take place before full relations will be established
between the two sides. Contacts have also told us that the
establishment of relations with Vietnam is not unrelated to the
establishment of relations with China. Regional experts have
told us that it is unlikely that Vietnam would establish full
relations with the Holy See before seeing further progress in
the China - Holy See relationship.
ROONEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/18/2017
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV CM VM VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN: VIETNAM AND CHINA CHURCH ISSUES FRONT AND CENTER
REF: A) VATICAN 0004 B) VATICAN 0005
CLASSIFIED BY: Peter G. Martin, A/DCM, AMEMB VATICAN, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: The Holy See intends to hold meetings on
January 19 and 20 with key Catholic officials to formulate a
common policy toward China in response to the recent illicit
ordinations by the GoC. In related news, unofficial Vatican
sources have confirmed that Pope Benedict will receive
Vietnamese Prime Minister D?ng on January 25 in the first-ever
meeting between a GoV official and a pope. Dung's visit is an
important building block in the establishment of full relations
between Vietnam and the Holy See, but is likely part of a
lengthy process rather than a move that will lead to an
overnight breakthrough. End Summary.
-------------- --------------
Holy See Meets to Formulate Common Policy toward China
-------------- --------------
2. (C) The Holy See's Press Office announced January 18 that
the Holy See will convene a meeting Friday and Saturday, January
19 and 20, to consider the situation of the Catholic Church in
China. The meeting will be presided over by Cardinal Secretary
of State Bertone and will, according to our sources, include
other members of the Secretariat of State, the Congregation for
the Evangelization of Peoples, along with high level Church
officials from China including Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong.
3. (C) Vatican-affiliated China expert Father Bernardo
Cervellera, editor of Asia News Service, told PolOff January 18
that the purpose of the meeting is to form a common policy
toward China in light of recent events including the last
illicit ordination which occurred in December 2006. Cervellera
opines that the Holy See meeting is to determine, inter alia,
how to treat the bishops ordained illicitly and how to address
China's role in these events. Cervellera believes one outcome
of the meetings will be the creation of a permanent commission
to deal with Chinese issues.
-------------- --------------
Holy See - Vietnam: Another Step Toward Diplomatic Relations?
-------------- --------------
4. (C) According to Asia News, unofficial Vatican sources have
confirmed that Pope Benedict will receive Vietnamese Prime
Minister Nguy?n T?n D?ng on January 25 in what is the first
meeting between a top government official from that country and
a pope. The unofficial sources indicate the GoV confirmed
January 18 the original date of January 25 to the Vatican.
5. (C) Cervellera told PolOff January 18 that Vietnam wants to
use this visit to bolster their image within the world community
and to encourage investment and foreign assistance from the
outside by demonstrating that Vietnam is modernizing and
becoming more liberal. Cervellera expects this visit to be an
important building block in the normalization of diplomatic
relations between the Holy See and Vietnam.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The confirmed visit by the Vietnamese Prime Minister to
the Vatican is a significant step in the continuing improvement
of relations between the Holy See and Vietnam. Seen in the
context of the Holy See's continuing outreach to the GoV (a
March 2007 delegation to Vietnam will continue the Vatican's
efforts on this front),the meeting could edge the two sides
closer to the establishment of full diplomatic relations.
7. (C) We expect the process to establish diplomatic relations
between Vietnam and the Holy See, however, to be lengthy. As is
the case with China, there are intermediate steps that would
likely take place before full relations will be established
between the two sides. Contacts have also told us that the
establishment of relations with Vietnam is not unrelated to the
establishment of relations with China. Regional experts have
told us that it is unlikely that Vietnam would establish full
relations with the Holy See before seeing further progress in
the China - Holy See relationship.
ROONEY