US embassy cable - 02VATICAN180

UNCLAS VATICAN 000180 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI), NEA/IAI 
 
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 007/02 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, VT, UN, terrorism 
SUBJECT: PAPAL ADDRESS FOCUSES ON VIOLENCE, RESPONSIBILITY 
 
 
AND FORGIVENESS 
 
1.  IN HIS ANNUAL SPEECH TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS, POPE JOHN 
PAUL II OFFERED HIS VERSION OF THE STATE OF THE WORLD, 
FOCUSING ON AREAS TRADITIONALLY OF CONCERN TO THE CHURCH. 
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ESCHEWING FOR THE MOST PART HIS TRADITIONAL EXHORTATION FOR 
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TO DO MORE FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE, IT 
STRUCK MANY THAT THE PONTIFF EXPRESSED A BALANCED AND 
REALISTIC ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT CONDITIONS AND A GENTLE 
PRESCRIPTION FOR THE FUTURE. 
 
2.  EARLY ON, HE OFFERED A COMMENTARY ON EU EXPANSION: HE 
SUPPORTS IT AND INDEED ENCOURAGES MORE, BUT ASSERTS THAT 
EVEN A SECULAR EUROPE MUST ALLOW RELIGIOUS VOICES TO HAVE A 
PLACE IN EU PLANNING -- ESPECIALLY IN THE UPCOMING 
DISCUSSIONS OF AN EU CONSTITUTION.  HE NOTED PROGRESS IN 
CYPRUS, KOSOVO AND SRI LANKA, AND CONGRATULATED BOTH THE 
PEOPLES REPUBLIC, AND THE REPUBLIC, OF CHINA FOR TAKING 
SEATS AT THE WTO. 
 
3.  ON THE ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN CONFLICT HE DECRIED "THE 
INJUSTICE OF WHICH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VICTIMS 
FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS."  HE ADDED THAT ONLY A HALT TO THE 
VIOLENCE AND "RESPECT FOR OTHERS AND THEIR LEGITIMATE 
ASPIRATIONS, THE APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, THE 
WITHDRAWAL FROM OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, AND INTERNATIONALLY 
GUARANTEED STATUS FOR THE MOST HOLY PLACES IN JERUSALEM,.." 
CAN BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE TO WHICH THERE IS APPARENTLY 
NO END.  ALL OF THE ABOVE IS STANDARD VATICAN LANGUAGE -- AS 
WAS HIS EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY BE 
ACCEPTED BY ALL PARTIES TO TAKE A ROLE IN THE PEACE PROCESS. 
(NOTE: WE READ THIS TO INCLUDE COUNTRIES BESIDES THE U.S. IN 
THE PEACE PROCESS, TO INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL MONITORS.) 
 
4.  THE POPE REITERATED HIS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE UNITED 
STATES' RIGHT TO "LEGITIMATE DEFENSE" AGAINST THE TERRORIST 
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ATTACKS OF 9/11.  NOTING THE NEED ALSO TO CONSIDER 
STRATEGIES TO COMBAT IT, ADDRESS CAUSAL FACTORS, AND BEGIN A 
HEALING PROCESS, HE OFFERED AN IMPLICIT ENDORSEMENT OF OUR 
CAMPAIGN BY SIMPLY URGING THE KARZAI GOVERNMENT TO MOVE 
QUICKLY TO "PACIFY" ALL OF AFGHANISTAN'S TERRITORY. 
 
5.  THE PONTIFF RESERVED HIS MOST HARSH AND BLUNT CRITICISM 
FOR THOSE WHO WOULD COMMIT VIOLENCE IN THE NAME OF GOD.  HE 
CALLED THIS "BLASPHEMY AND A PERVERSION OF RELIGION."   HE 
FURTHER DECRIED TERRORISM "IN THE NAME OF GOD," AS A 
"PROFANATION OF RELIGION." 
 
6.  TOWARDS THE END OF HIS TALK, THE PONTIFF OFFERED BRIEF 
COMMENTS ON THE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT GAP.  UNLIKE IN PREVIOUS 
ANNUAL ADDRESSES, IN WHICH HE SOUGHT TO STIMULATE THE NORTH 
TO DO MORE FOR THE SOUTH, THIS TIME HE URGED THE POLITICAL 
CLASSES -- IN AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA ESPECIALLY -- TO SET 
ASIDE THEIR GREED AND PARTISAN DIFFERENCE AND TAKE 
RESPONSIBILITY FOR BETTERING THEIR OWN SITUATION. 
 
7.  IN CLOSING, THE PONTIFF OFFERED HIS INSIGHTS ON THE 
NATURE OF GOD AND MAN; HE UNDERSCORED THAT, ALONE AMONG THE 
MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS, CHRISTIANITY OFFERS TO THE WORLD 
(AND TO ISLAM IN PARTICULAR) A FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH -- THAT TO 
FORGIVE IS DIVINE.  HE HOPED THAT THE JANUARY 24 DAY OF 
PRAYER IN ASSISI WOULD BRING THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD'S 
RELIGIOUS LEADERS TOGETHER AROUND THE MESSAGE THAT RELIGION 
SHOULD NOT, AND INDEED TODAY CANNOT, BE SPREAD BY FORCE OF 
ARMS. 
NICHOLSON 
 
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 2002VATICA00180 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED