US embassy cable - 01VATICAN6470

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 006470 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); NEA/NGA 
 
EMBASSY VATICAN MESSAGE NO. 219/01 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/11 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, RM, VT 
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT 
 
 
OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE 
 
REF: VATICAN 06036 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5 
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(A) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) AMBASSADOR PAID COURTESY CALL ON THE PRESIDENT OF 
THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOG, 
CARDINAL FRANCIS ARINZE.  CARDINAL ARINZE IS ONE OF ONLY 
TWO BLACK AFRICANS IN THE ROMAN CURIA (REF).  THE 
CARDINAL DISCUSSED THE COUNCIL'S COORDINATION OF DIALOG 
WITH ALL NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS.  THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS 
DIALOG WITH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, WHICH ALONG WITH NON- 
CATHOLIC CHRISTAN DENOMINATIONS, IS CONDUCTED BY THE 
COUNCIL FOR CHRISTAN UNITY.  ARINZE FURTHER EXPLAINED 
THAT THE COUNCIL GREW OUT OF THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL 
IN WHICH IT WAS DECIDED TO TRY TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER 
RELIGIOUS BODIES TO FOSTER BETTER UNDERSTANDING BY 
EMPHASIZING WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON, AND HOW THEY CAN 
BETTER SERVE MANKIND JOINTLY. 
 
2. (C) CARDINAL ARINZE'S BIGGEST ACCOUNT IS DIALOG WITH 
THE MUSLIMS.  THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, WITH 18% OF THE 
WORLD'S POPULATION, IS THE SECOND LARGEST WORLD RELIGION 
AFTER CHRISTIANITY WHICH COMPOSES 33%. HE STATED THAT TWO 
AREAS IN WHICH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WISHES TO CHANGE 
CURRENT MUSLIM THINKING IS THAT OF 1)EDUCATION AND 
2)RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.  THE VATICAN IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT 
THE MUSLIM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SYSTEM WHICH PORTRAYS 
CHRISTIANS AS THE "ENEMY"; AND WITH THE LACK OF RELIGIOUS 
FREEDOM IN MANY MUSLIM COUNTRIES. 
3. (C) THE CARDINAL USED THE OCCASION TO AGAIN EXPRESS 
HIS CONDOLENCES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACK.  HE SAID IT 
WOULD BE A "DISASTER" IF THE CONCEPT OF HUNTINQTON'S 
"CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS" WERE TO BECOME A REALITY.  HE 
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PAGE 03        VATICA  06470  131632Z 
WENT ON TO STATE, HOWEVER, THAT THE U.S. MUST REALIZE 
THAT IF THE PALESTINIAN/ISRAELI CONFLICT WERE SETTLED AND 
IF THE EMBARQO AQAINST IRAQ WERE LIFTED, MUCH OF THE 
AQENDA OF THE FUNDAMENTALISTS WOULD "EVAPORATE".  THE 
AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED WHY IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE 
EMBARQO ON SADDAM HUSSEIN'S REQIME.  THE CARDINAL REPLIED 
THAT EVEN IF THE CASE HAS MERIT, THE IMAQES IN WHICH THE 
MUSLIM WORLD SEES ARE THOSE OF "DYING BABIES", DUE TO 
HARD-HEARTED, MEAN AMERICANS. 
 
4. (C) CARDINAL ARINZE SPOKE BRIEFLY ABOUT HIS COUNCIL'S 
ROLE IN ORGANIZING THE JANUARY 24 INTER-RELIGIOUS 
CONFERENCE IN ASSISI.  HE SAID THAT HE EXPECTED 
APPROXIMATELY 50 U.S. RELIQIOUS LEADERS TO BE INVITED. 
THE AMBASSADOR REQUESTED THAT HE SHARE THE INVITATION 
LIST WITH THE EMBASSY AS SOON AS IT IS FINALIZED. 
 
5. (C) COMMENT: THE JANUARY 24 CONFERENCE, ALTHOUGH 
OSTENSIBLY A RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE, HAS THE POTENTIAL OF 
PRODUCING POLITICAL STATEMENTS.  IT IS LIKELY THAT ONE 
SUCH STATEMENT WILL BE A CONDEMNATION OF THE EMBARQO IN 
IRAQ.  POST WILL MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS LEADINQ TO THE 
CONFERENCE, AS WELL AS ATTEND IN AN OBSERVER CAPACITY. 
NICHOLSON 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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 2001VATICA06470 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL