LEBANON: AMBASSADOR PRESSES HOLY SEE

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000069

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/3/2017
TAGS: PREL VT
SUBJECT: LEBANON: AMBASSADOR PRESSES HOLY SEE

REF: (a) BEIRUT 450 ET AL, (b) Feltman-Sandrolini emails, (c) Larrea-Sandrolini emails, (d) Vatican 047 and previous

CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher Sandrolini, Deputy Chief of Mission,
EXEC, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)

1. (C) Summary. Ambassador pressed Holy See deputy FM Parolin on
bolstering Lebanon, and Patriarch Sfeir, during an April 3
meeting. Parolin indicated that the Holy See remained
unconvinced that an envoy could be effective at this time. He
drew ambassador's attention to recent strong statements by
Sfeir. Parolin hinted that the USG should follow up at a high
level if we wish to push the envoy initiative. End summary.


2. (SBU) Ambassador Rooney, accompanied by DCM, met Monsignor
Pietro Parolin April 3 and urged increased Holy See action on
Lebanon. Parolin, the Holy See's Undersecretary for Relations
with States (i.e. deputy foreign minister),was accompanied by
Monsignor Franco Coppola, the office director for Levant issues.



3. (C) Ambassador and DCM drew on talking points and other
information from refs a-c, stressing that the USG is extremely
attentive to and concerned by the current situation in Lebanon,
and that we believe the Holy See can and should play a helpful
role by sending an envoy to Lebanon in support of Patriarch
Sfeir. Sfeir's interview last week (in Kuwaiti newspaper al-Rai)
included some overdue but welcome firm language about the need
for Lahoud to step down, Aoun's deal with Hizbullah, and Syrian
interference. This language was good, but frankly we have been
concerned about the Patriarch's position recently.


4. (C) Parolin, with whom we have frequently discussed Lebanon
(ref d) said the Holy See of course continued to share our
concern over the situation. He saw the question of an envoy
from two main perspectives -- the need to protect Lebanese
Christians, and the likelihood of success. On the latter, he
said, the Vatican frankly remains skeptical. Parolin recalled
that when the ambassador last discussed the matter with
Archbishop Mamberti (the foreign minister) in January, Mamberti
had not been convinced of the wisdom of sending an envoy.
Ambassador and DCM emphasized that sending an envoy would not
only offer an opportunity to encourage the Patriarch, but also
to show the public where the Holy See stood. Parolin, mindful
of the intense divisions within the Lebanese Christian
community, agreed that an envoy might be able to encourage the
Patriarch, but seemed to doubt whether any broader purpose could
be accomplished at this time. He would only commit that "we
will think about it". As an alternative, he appeared positive
about inviting the Patriarch to come to Rome.


5. (C) DCM asked Parolin about the papal nuncio in Beirut,
Archbishop Gatti, noting that he had kept a very low profile at
a time when every effort mattered. Parolin said that Gatti --
who had just returned to Beirut after a visit to Rome -- was
trying to be effective while keeping out of the spotlight. DCM
emphasized that the nuncio, occupying a key position, needed to
be more visible.


6. (C) Returning to the subject of the Patriarch, Parolin
(referring to an exchange of some weeks ago) said Foreign
Minister Mamberti had been under the impression that he might
receive a call from a senior USG official, but this hadn't
occurred. He said Mamberti would be available to discuss
Lebanon with Washington in the coming week, should the USG wish
to do so. Ambassador welcomed this information and promised to
convey it promptly.

Comment
--------------


7. (C) Parolin was clearly not convinced that the time had come
to send an envoy. At another point in the conversation, he
reminded us of his position in the hierarchy -- i.e. that his
superiors would have to be persuaded for any action to occur.
Taken together with his comment about a call (para 6),this is a
clear hint that we should follow up at a high level if we hope
to spur the Holy See to act.

ROONEY