SANT'EGIDIO PESSIMISTIC REGARDING PRC --HOLY SEE RELATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000086 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EUR/WE LARREA, DRL/IRF HEWETT E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/4/2017 TAGS: PREL PHUM CH VT SUBJECT: SANT'EGIDIO PESSIMISTIC REGARDING PRC --HOLY SEE RELATIONS REF: 05 VATICAN 000484, ET AL. VATICAN 00000086 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: CHRISTOPHER J. SANDROLINI, DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Valeria Martano of the Vatican-linked Sant'Egidio Community believes China-Holy See relations are stuck in neutral in the short to mid-term because the Chinese do not see a clear benefit to formalizing relations with the Holy See. China's economic clout on the international trade front taken together with a deep anxiety of an independent actor causing internal "problems" have created the stalemate between the two, according to Martano. That said, Martano believes that an agreement could be reached, similar to arrangements that Holy See has made with Vietnam -- if the two sides could meet in formal talks. End Summary. -------------- -------------- A Missed Opportunity? China-Holy See Relations Stalled -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Valeria Martano, the Community of Sant'Egidio's Asian Affairs expert, told us in a late April meeting that official engagement between China and the Holy See has stalled for the moment. (Note: Sant'Egidio has been involved in China for many years, developing academic and government-linked contacts, and promoting improved relations with the Holy See per reftel a). Martano said the Holy See missed its opportunity to make headway in China a number of years ago; today China needs no one and fears no one. In fact, it is the rest of the world that is now knocking at China's doors asking to be received by what many believe will be the economic and political powerhouse of the twenty-first century said Martano. With its pro-active energy outreach to Africa, China will become less and less reliant on "traditional" sources of oil and gas. What China does fear, according to Martano, is internal disharmony, which is why the Catholic Church will have to work extremely hard to demonstrate to the GOC that it will not be a source of internal dissent. Martano said that historically, the Holy See has a poor record in this regard, having interfered often in internal Chinese domestic affairs. ¶3. (C) Martano indicated that discussions between the Holy See and China have been complicated by a lack of consistency in interlocutors. Over the last few years, individual church hierarchs have visited China and engaged Chinese government officials at various levels - but never with an "official" Holy See mandate. Martano said that the Vietnamese model for engagement - which she deemed successful - was based on an evolving trust between the two delegations which met often. Regrettably, the opportunity to initiate such a process in China has passed, she said. -------------- Many Bishop Selection Models to Choose From -------------- ¶4. (C) According to Martano there are a variety of episcopal selection models available that might satisfy both the Chinese and the Holy See. One is the Vietnam solution, where the GOV and the Holy See agree on a government-proposed candidate. Another model mentioned by Martano is the Eastern-rite Catholic method which elects bishops in a synodal process and then informs the Holy See of the result. Subsequently the newly-elected Eastern-rite bishop requests "communion" with the Pope as a sign of unity. Martano said if China and the Holy See agreed to meet with an official mandate from both sides, then she believes a solution could be reached. The challenge, however said Martano, is to arrange such a meeting in the first place. Taken together with the power-struggles within the Communist Party, and an inability on the Holy See's part to think outside of the box, such a breakthrough is still far off. VATICAN 00000086 002.2 OF 002 -------------- -------------- Death of Archbishop Tieshan an Opportunity for Engagement? -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) The recent death of Beijing's archbishop, Michael Fu Tieshan, could provide China and the Holy See with an opportunity to engage more closely regarding the choice of a successor, said Martano. This of course, depends on the message that China wishes to send to its Catholic constituents, as well as to the wider world. Ever mindful of the concepts of balance and fairness, the Chinese compromised their hard-line stance on a couple of episcopal appointments, said Martano, accepting the "need" for Holy See approval. Later, however, the Chinese reverted to selecting and ordaining their own men without the Vatican's "placet." -------------- -------------- Chinese Don't See Upside to Relations with Holy See -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Despite her belief in engagement through dialogue, Martano emphasized that Chinese authorities do not yet see great value from having diplomatic relations with the Holy See. Given China's current level of international economic engagement, it sees no realpolitik "need" for formal relations with the Holy See or expanded freedom for the Catholic Church. In other words, China isn't suffering because of the restrictions it places on the Church, so why change? As Martano pointed out, "everyone wants to do business with China and will continue doing so whether they have relations with the Holy See or not." Martano indicated that Sant'Egidio had asked the Chinese for signs of "good will," such as the release of imprisoned clergy. This would indicate that the Chinese value dialogue and the possibility of future diplomatic relations with the Holy See. So far Sant'Egidio has yet to receive any concrete evidence that the dialogue had born fruit. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Martano believes the Chinese are indifferent to anger caused in the Holy See by their appointment of bishops without a papal mandate. China believes the costs of such a relationship outweigh the benefits, and only accepts the Church within its society because it contributes to maintaining social harmony - at the moment by way of "free" social and health care services, thus saving the state money. This perspective is more pessimistic than that of the Holy See. While Sant'Egidio has important insight into Church-State issues, we are less able to judge its ability to discern intentions and trends at the highest levels within the Catholic Patriarch Association and Chinese government. ROONEY