PAPAL STATEMENTS AND NORTHERN SRI LANKA

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000031 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/27/2029 TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV PREF PTER KIRF CE VT SUBJECT: PAPAL STATEMENTS AND NORTHERN SRI LANKA REF: COLOMBO 210 (NOTAL) CLASSIFIED BY: Rafael Foley, A/DCM. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: A/DCM and poloff met on February 27 with the Vatican's point person on Sri Lanka, Monsignor Joseph Murphy, to discuss the situation in that country and ongoing efforts to press the LTTE to allow the departure of civilians from conflict zones. Murphy strongly supports the efforts of the Tamil Catholic bishops to influence the LTTE (ref.),and recalled the Pope's own public appeal on February 4, 2009 in which he called on all combatants to respect humanitarian law and allow the free movement of the population. A new Papal statement, however, is not imminent, as the Vatican feels it could be counterproductive. End summary. ¶2. (C) While the Holy See remains very concerned over the situation in northern Sri Lanka, Murphy did not expect the Pope to make another public appeal immediately. Any Vatican statement, he said, would need to address both the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka, lest it appears the Vatican is taking sides. The GSL is very sensitive --now that it sees a military victory within reach-- to any appeals for peace other than to negotiate the surrender of the LTTE. Making public references implicitly or explicitly to the current military operations --even while calling again on the LTTE to allow the movement of civilians-- was likely to irritate the GSL and add little to the Pope's February 4 appeal. Murphy added that the local bishops, rather than a new Papal statement, were more likely to influence the LTTE. ¶3. (C) Murphy said the GSL has allowed the Sri Lanka branch of Caritas (the humanitarian agency of the Catholic Church) access to IDP and screening camps, and has not impeded its work. The GSL had also extended agrement to Monsignor Joseph Spiteri, the Holy See's next Nuncio in Colombo, almost immediately upon request (Spiteri should arrive there in May of 2009). These were signs of GSL respect for the Catholic Church. This, he added, was important to facilitate the humanitarian work of Catholic organizations. ¶4. (C) Biographical note on Monsignor Spiteri: The next Holy See Nuncio in Colombo, who will be elevated to bishop and will receive the title of Archbishop before assuming his new diplomatic position, is currently serving at the Secretariat of State in Rome. Embassy Vatican officers know him as a cordial and accessible person. Born in Malta, he has previously served in Venezuela and the United States. He speaks English fluently. ¶5. (C) Comment: The position that Murphy laid out is consistent with the Vatican's practice of safeguarding the image of the Pope as an impartial moral leader. Given that the Pope already made earlier in February 2009 a public appeal to all parties in the conflict, the Vatican thinks it is now best to support back channels and the efforts of the local bishops. This view is not set in stone: major developments on the ground or a strong indication that further public appeals to all/all parties in the conflict would actually help (and not backfire) might lead to further Papal statements. End comment. NOYES