Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07VATICAN58
2007-03-20 10:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:
ZIMBABWE: HOLY SEE TO SPEAK OUT?
how-toVZCZCXRO9977 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHSR DE RUEHROV #0058 0791017 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 201017Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0685 INFO RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE PRIORITY 0001 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0004 RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0715
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000058
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/20/2032
TAGS: KIRF PHUM SOCI ZI ZU SF UK VT
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: HOLY SEE TO SPEAK OUT?
REF: Martin-Larrea-Hill Feb 8 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 000058
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/20/2032
TAGS: KIRF PHUM SOCI ZI ZU SF UK VT
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: HOLY SEE TO SPEAK OUT?
REF: Martin-Larrea-Hill Feb 8 emails
CLASSIFIED BY: Peter Martin, Pol/Econ Chief, Vatican, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) This telegram contains a recommendation and action
request below.
--------------
Background
--------------
2. (C) Post noted in early February that the Holy See was
considering speaking out on Zimbabwe (reftel). The issue is now
on the front burner. A senior cardinal in the Roman Curia
(Vatican bureaucracy) met with Pope Benedict March 17 and made
the case that the Catholic Church had an obligation to speak out
on the current ills in that country. The UK Embassy has also
pressed the Holy See on the same issue.
-------------- --------------
Recommendation and Request for Points / Guidance
-------------- --------------
3. (C) As the Holy See is actively considering how to approach
the issue, Post recommends
- Embassy Vatican demarche the Holy See to take whatever action
the Department deems appropriate -- most likely for the pope to
speak out at a highly visible opportunity.
- Embassies Harare and Pretoria approach the papal nuncios in
Zimbabwe and South Africa in a coordinated effort to spur the
Holy See to action. We understand the UK is considering doing
the same.
4. (C) Nuncios Edward Adams (Zimbabwe) and James Green (S.A.)
are both Americans (from Philadelphia). People here tell us
Adams is not very active, but we know Green to be a dynamo who
only recently transferred from a top position here in the Curia.
His push could help.
5. (C) Any demarche should let the Holy See draw its own
conclusions on when to speak out, but for background, a prime
opportunity for a papal intervention is Pope Benedict's Easter
Urbi et Orbi ("To the City and to the World") address April 8,
during which the pontiff typically mentions trouble spots around
the world. He has also used his Wednesday audiences to make
similar comments. In either case, with the slow-moving Vatican
bureaucracy, we ought to move fast.
6. (U) Post awaits guidance on this issue.
SANDROLINI
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/20/2032
TAGS: KIRF PHUM SOCI ZI ZU SF UK VT
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: HOLY SEE TO SPEAK OUT?
REF: Martin-Larrea-Hill Feb 8 emails
CLASSIFIED BY: Peter Martin, Pol/Econ Chief, Vatican, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) This telegram contains a recommendation and action
request below.
--------------
Background
--------------
2. (C) Post noted in early February that the Holy See was
considering speaking out on Zimbabwe (reftel). The issue is now
on the front burner. A senior cardinal in the Roman Curia
(Vatican bureaucracy) met with Pope Benedict March 17 and made
the case that the Catholic Church had an obligation to speak out
on the current ills in that country. The UK Embassy has also
pressed the Holy See on the same issue.
-------------- --------------
Recommendation and Request for Points / Guidance
-------------- --------------
3. (C) As the Holy See is actively considering how to approach
the issue, Post recommends
- Embassy Vatican demarche the Holy See to take whatever action
the Department deems appropriate -- most likely for the pope to
speak out at a highly visible opportunity.
- Embassies Harare and Pretoria approach the papal nuncios in
Zimbabwe and South Africa in a coordinated effort to spur the
Holy See to action. We understand the UK is considering doing
the same.
4. (C) Nuncios Edward Adams (Zimbabwe) and James Green (S.A.)
are both Americans (from Philadelphia). People here tell us
Adams is not very active, but we know Green to be a dynamo who
only recently transferred from a top position here in the Curia.
His push could help.
5. (C) Any demarche should let the Holy See draw its own
conclusions on when to speak out, but for background, a prime
opportunity for a papal intervention is Pope Benedict's Easter
Urbi et Orbi ("To the City and to the World") address April 8,
during which the pontiff typically mentions trouble spots around
the world. He has also used his Wednesday audiences to make
similar comments. In either case, with the slow-moving Vatican
bureaucracy, we ought to move fast.
6. (U) Post awaits guidance on this issue.
SANDROLINI