US embassy cable - 01VATICAN6036

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 006036 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EUR/WE (MENUTTI); AF/W AND AF/E 
 
EMBASSY VATICAN MESSAGE NO. 206/01 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:OADR 11/23/11 
 
TAGS: PREL, VT 
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR CALLS ON DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF 
CARDINALS 
 
 
(U) CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR R. JAMES NICHOLSON FOR 
REASONS 1.5 (B) (D). 
 
1.  (C) AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON PAID COURTESY CALL ON 
CARDINAL BERNARDIN GANTIN, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF 
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CARDINALS ON NOVEMBER 23.  THE CARDINAL AGAIN 
EXPRESSED HIS OUTRAGE AND CONDOLENCES FOR THE 
SEPTEMBER 11 TRAGEDY.  GANTIN ALSO SPOKE AT LENGTH ON 
HIS CLOSE TIES WITH THE UNITED STATES, AS WELL AS HIS 
HOPES TO VISIT IN DECEMBER IF HIS HEALTH PERMITS. 
 
2. (C) CARDINAL GANTIN RAISED ONE ISSUE OF SUBSTANCE, 
NIGERIA.  HE ASKED THE AMBASSADOR IF HE HAS FOCUSED ON 
NIGERIA.  THE AMBASSADOR REPLIED THAT HE HAS NOT YET, 
BUT EMBASSY VATICAN IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH 
SANT'EGIDIO ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN AFRICA, AND WE 
HOPE THAT SENATOR DANFORTH WILL TRAVEL TO THE VATICAN 
IN DECEMBER TO DISCUSS SUDAN.  CARDINAL GANTIN SAID 
THAT HE RAISED NIGERIA FOR TWO REASONS.  THE FIRST IS 
THAT THE ONLY TWO BLACK AFRICAN CARDINALS IN THE ROMAN 
CURIA ARE HE (FROM NEIGHBORING BENIN), AND CARDINAL 
ARINZE FROM NIGERIA.  THE SECOND REASON IS THAT HE IS 
PERSONALLY VERY CONCERNED WITH THE NORTHERN NIGERIAN 
ISLAMIC/CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE IN THE BENIN BORDER REGION. 
 
3.  (C) COMMENT:  ALTHOUGH RETIRED FROM VATICAN 
GOVERNMENT SERVICE, AS DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF 
CARDINALS, GANTIN COULD PRESIDE OVER THE DISCUSSIONS 
AND VOTES OF THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS IN THE EVENT OF 
THE DEATH OF THE POPE.  THUS, HE REMAINS AN INDIVIDUAL 
OF CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE IN THE VATICAN.  IF THE 
CARDINAL TRAVELS TO THE UNITED STATES IN DECEMBER, 
POST RECOMMENDS HE MEET WITH APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS IN 
THE BUREAU OF AFRICAN AFFAIRS TO DISCUSS HIS CONCERNS 
WITH THE SITUATION IN NIGERIA. 
NICHOLSON 
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 2001VATICA06036 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL