HOLY SEE: AMBASSADOR PRESSES VATICAN ON IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000081 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/25/2017 TAGS: PREL VT SUBJECT: HOLY SEE: AMBASSADOR PRESSES VATICAN ON IRAQ REF: A) LARREA - EMBASSY VATICAN EMAIL APRIL 19, B) VATICAN 76, C) MARTIN - EUR/WE EMAIL APR 13 CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher Sandrolini, Charge d'affaires a.i., EXEC, State. REASON: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) The Ambassador raised ref (a) points on Iraq with the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States (FM equivalent), Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, April 20. The Ambassador emphasized the many positive developments that have occurred in various parts of Iraq. He acknowledged that much work remained to be done, but said that we didn't see how the papal comment on the subject (ref b) was constructive under the circumstances. ¶2. (C) Mamberti said that he understood our concerns. He admitted that there were at least some bright spots in some area of the country, but insisted that the overall death toll was overshadowing those developments. Pope Benedict was speaking about the overall situation on the ground, he emphasized. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador reiterated out commitment to remain in close contact with the Vatican on Iraq, and asked that the Holy See offer forward-looking comments on the situation. ¶4. (C) Comment: The Ambassador's demarche, coupled with lower-level conversations on the same subject (ref c),has been noted by Holy See Secretariat of State personnel, according to one of our close contacts. We will continue to press for constructive comments from Vatican officials on Iraq. SANDROLINI