US embassy cable - 02VATICAN521

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 000521 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/WE (D. MENNUTI); DRL/IRF (T.FARR) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2012 
TAGS: IT, PHUM, PREL, PHUM, PREL, PHUM, PREL, VT, VTIT, VTIT 
SUBJECT: THE ASSISI WORLD DAY FOR PEACE.  THE VATICAN TAKES 
ON THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS. 
 
REF: VATICAN 00445 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON, REASONS 1.5 B. 
 
1.  (U)  SUMMARY:  POPE JOHN PAUL II LED AN INTERFAITH APPEAL 
FOR PEACE JANUARY 24 IN ASSISI, ITALY AT WHICH HE ISSUED A 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  00521  01 OF 03  040621Z 
RINGING CONDEMNATION OF VIOLENCE PERPETRATED IN THE NAME OF 
RELIGION. MORE THAN 300 RELIGIOUS LEADERS ATTENDED FROM 
AROUND THE WORLD TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE PAPAL CALL FOR 
DIALOG AMONG RELIGIONS AND CULTURES.  THE MEETING, WHICH THE 
POPE CALLED IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE WORLD SITUATION 
POST-SEPTEMBER, INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES OF WESTERN AND 
NON-WESTERN RELIGIONS.  VATICAN-WATCHERS HIGHLIGHTED THE 
STRONG ORTHODOX PRESENCE. KEY MUSLIM PARTICIPANTS NUMBERED 
OVER THIRTY, INCLUDING A THEOLOGIAN FROM MECCA WHO SPOKE AT 
LENGTH WITH POLOFF.  THE ASSISI MEETING REPRESENTED THE 
CULMINATION OF RECENT VATICAN EFFORTS TO COMBAT PERCEPTIONS 
OF A CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (U) THE JANUARY 24 ASSISI "DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE IN THE 
WORLD" WAS THE OCCASION FOR UNUSUAL ENCOUNTERS AND UNLIKELY 
DIALOGUE. SHARING CENTER STAGE WERE ZOROASTRIAN AND CATHOLIC, 
ANIMIST AND MUSLIM, BUDDHIST AND BAPTIST, JAINIST AND QUAKER, 
HINDU AND ORTHODOX, AND MANY OTHERS FROM SCORES OF 
DISTINCTIVE FAITH TRADITIONS.  AN ATTEMPT TO BRIDGE RELIGIOUS 
DIFFERENCES IN AN AFFIRMATION OF COMMON VALUES, THE ASSISI 
MEETING REPRESENTED AN ECUMENICAL AND INTERFAITH CAPSTONE FOR 
THE JOHN PAUL II PAPACY.  THE POPE'S OWN CONDEMNATION OF WAR, 
TERRORISM, AND, MOST ESPECIALLY, VIOLENCE IN THE NAME OF 
RELIGION, FURTHER REPRESENTED A VERY PERSONAL RESPONSE TO THE 
GLOBAL CRISIS PRECIPITATED BY SEPTEMBER 11 (REF. 
 
3.  (U) THE POPE CONVOKED THE ASSISI GATHERING IN LATE 
NOVEMBER 2001 IN AN URGENT APPEAL FOR PEACE IN A WORLD 
WOUNDED BY WAR AND TERRORISM.  THE VATICAN HAD LITTLE 
LEAD-TIME TO MOUNT A COMPLEX OPERATION IN LOGISTICS AND 
PROTOCOL.  THE VATICAN HOWEVER IS A VETERAN HAND IN 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        VATICA  00521  01 OF 03  040621Z 
ORCHESTRATING LARGE EVENTS, ESPECIALLY AFTER HANDLING THE 
MILLIONS OF PILGRIMS DURING THE JUBILEE YEAR.  MOREOVER, 
THERE WERE HELPFUL PRECEDENTS IN ASSISI ITSELF, WHICH HAD 
HOSTED LARGE INTERFAITH GATHERINGS IN 1982, 1986 AND 1993. 
 
4.  (U) IN 1982 POPE JOHN PAUL II LAUNCHED THE ASSISI 
MEETINGS WITH A LARGE-SCALE COMMEMORATION OF THE 700TH 
BIRTHDAY OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI, THE CELEBRATED UMBRIAN 
SAINT OF POVERTY AND PEACE (WHO ALSO TRIED HIS HAND AT 
DIPLOMACY WHEN HE TRAVELED TO THE MIDDLE EAST TO SEEK AN END 
TO THE CRUSADES).  IN 1986 THE POPE RETURNED TO ASSISI 
FLANKED BY MYRIAD RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN AN APPEAL TO END THE 
DANGEROUS DIVISIONS OF THE COLD WAR. IN 1993 JOHN PAUL II 
CONVOKED A SMALLER GATHERING IN ASSISI TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS 
IN THE BALKANS. THE 1986 MEETING IN PARTICULAR BECAME THE 
TOUCHSTONE FOR SUBSEQUENT VATICAN EFFORTS IN INTERFAITH 
RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL DIALOGUE. OTHER INTERFAITH 
GATHERINGS, NOTABLY UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE COMMUNITY OF 
SANT'EGIDIO, INVARIABLY INVOKE THE SPIRIT OF THE 1986 MEETING 
IN ASSISI. 
 
ASSISI IN 2002: THE VATICAN TAKES ON THE CLASH OF 
CIVILIZATIONS 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
5. (SBU) IN THE WAKE OF SEPTEMBER 11 THE VATICAN HAS SOUGHT 
TO COUNTER PERCEPTIONS OF A CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS. ITS 
SUPPORT FOR THE U.S.-LED CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORISM HAS 
CONSISTENTLY BEEN TEMPERED BY EFFORTS TO DEFUSE ANY RELIGIOUS 
ASPECT TO THE CONFLICT. EVEN AS VATICAN OFFICIALS LAUDED 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        VATICA  00521  01 OF 03  040621Z 
PRESIDENT BUSH'S OUTREACH TO ISLAM AND HIS VISIT TO AN 
AMERICAN MOSQUE, THE VATICAN HAS BEEN PURSUING ITS OWN 
PROGRAM OF OUTREACH TO MUSLIM LEADERSHIP.  IN SEPTEMBER A 
VATICAN DELEGATION (THAT INCLUDED AN AMERICAN WOMAN WITH A 
VATICAN PASSPORT) TRAVELED TO TEHERAN TO CONTINUE THE 
"DIALOGUE OF CIVILIZATIONS" BETWEEN THE HOLY SEE AND IRAN. 
IN LATE OCTOBER THE VATICAN AND THE AL-AZHAR ISLAMIC 
UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO MOVED FORWARD THEIR SCHEDULED CALENDAR OF 
MEETINGS IN ORDER TO PRESS QUIET YET TIMELY INTERFAITH 
DISCUSSIONS. IN NOVEMBER POPE JOHN PAUL II CALLED ON 
CATHOLICS TO FAST FOR PEACE ON DECEMBER 14 -- THE LAST DAY OF 
RAMADAN -- FORGING AN UNPRECEDENTED IF SHORT-LIVED MOMENT 
SHARED BETWEEN THE TWO FAITHS.  AND IN PUBLIC STATEMENTS THE 
POPE, WITH INCREASING EMPHASIS, HAS CONDEMNED VIOLENCE 
PERPETRATED IN THE NAME OF RELIGION, IN EFFECT REPUDIATING 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4331 
 
PAGE 01        VATICA  00521  02 OF 03  040621Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    ACQ-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00  DS-00 
      VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   VCE-00   NEA-00 
      DCP-01   NSAE-00  SS-00    T-00     SNIS-00  NISC-00  DSCC-00 
      DRL-02   SAS-00     /004W 
                  ------------------6174F8  040621Z /38 
P 040601Z FEB 02 
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 
INFO ALGERIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
ISLAMIC CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL MARSEILLE PRIORITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 VATICAN 000521 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/WE (D. MENNUTI); DRL/IRF (T.FARR) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2012 
TAGS: IT, PHUM, PREL, VT 
SUBJECT: THE ASSISI WORLD DAY FOR PEACE.  THE VATICAN TAKES 
ON THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS. 
 
THE SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORISTS AND BIN LADEN FROM THE ACCEPTED 
FAMILY OF BELIEVERS.  "THERE IS NO RELIGIOUS GOAL WHICH 
POSSIBLY CAN JUSTIFY THE USE OF VIOLENCE BY MAN AGAINST MAN," 
THE POPE REITERATED IN ASSISI, IN THE PRESENCE OF SOME THIRTY 
MUSLIM RELIGIOUS LEADERS. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  00521  02 OF 03  040621Z 
6.  (SBU) WHILE THE POPE'S OWN ASSISI PROCLAMATION "VIOLENCE 
NEVER AGAIN!  WAR NEVER AGAIN!  TERRORISM NEVER AGAIN!" 
DOMINATED THE HEADLINES, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF INTERVENTIONS 
READ BY OR ON BEHALF OF LEADERS OF DIFFERENT FAITHS, CREEDS, 
AND DENOMINATIONS. EACH STATEMENT HAD ITS OWN ACCENT AND 
IDENTITY, WITH NO EVIDENT PLOYS FOR SECTARIAN OR ETHNIC 
ADVANTAGE. SHEIK MOHAMMED AL-TANTAWI, HEAD OF CAIRO'S 
AL-AZHAR MOSQUE, WAS ABSENT, YET SENT A DECLARATION READ BY A 
REPRESENTATIVE.  THE STATEMENT, A COMMITMENT TO THE 
IMPORTANCE OF DIALOGUE, DID RAISE EYEBROWS HOWEVER, LAUDING 
POPE JOHN PAUL II AS A CHAMPION OF PALESTINIANS AND OMITTING 
ANY MENTION OF JUDAISM OR THE RABBINICAL PRESENCE ON STAGE. 
YET FOR THE VATICAN INDIVIDUAL STATEMENTS COUNTED LESS THAN 
THE FACT AND WITNESS OF EACH LEADER'S PRESENCE, NOTABLY THE 
MUSLIM AND ORTHODOX REPRESENTATIVES.  "THE VERY FACT THAT WE 
ARE LISTENING TO ONE ANOTHER," THE POPE SAID, "IS A SIGN OF 
PEACE." 
 
THE SECOND FRONT: ADVANCING RAPPROCHEMENT WITH THE ORTHODOX. 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
7.  (U) THE ASSISI ENCOUNTER INCLUDED A HOST OF ORTHODOX 
PATRIARCHS, THUS MARKING A KEY STEP FORWARD IN THE VATICAN'S 
OUTREACH TO EASTERN CHRISTIANITY. THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH OF 
CONSTANTINOPLE, BARTHOLOMEW, WHO HAS MET THE POPE SEVERAL 
TIMES, LENT LEGITIMACY AMONG ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS TO THE 
GATHERING.  THE TRUE WATERSHED HOWEVER WAS THE PRESENCE OF 
THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH'S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE, 
METROPOLITAN PITRIM.   VATICAN WATCHERS WERE QUICK TO READ 
INTO THE METROPOLITAN'S PRESENCE HOPES OF A SOFTENING IN THE 
RUSSIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH'S HITHERTO STRENUOUS OPPOSITION TO 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        VATICA  00521  02 OF 03  040621Z 
A PAPAL VISIT TO RUSSIA, REITERATED PUBLICLY ONLY DAYS 
PREVIOUSLY.  INDEED, FIDES, A VATICAN-BASED NEWS-SERVICE, 
CALLED THE HIGH CALIBER OF ORTHODOX SUPPORT FOR THE ASSISI 
MEETING  "AN UNHOPED FOR STEP CLOSER FOR CHRISTIANS OF EAST 
AND WEST, UNTHINKABLE ONLY MONTHS AGO." 
 
ASSESSMENT:  A COUP FOR THE VATICAN. 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
8.  (U) THE ASSISI GATHERING GENERATED ALMOST ENTIRELY 
POSITIVE PRESS FOR THE VATICAN.  IT REINFORCED THE VATICAN'S 
CAREFULLY CULTIVATED IMAGE AS A MODERN AGENT OF DIALOG 
BETWEEN CULTURES.  IT PROMOTED THE POPE'S UNIQUE CLAIM TO 
SPEAK AS A UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED MORAL AUTHORITY.  THE 
VATICAN ITSELF ADVANCED ITS AGENDA OF GREATER RAPPROCHEMENT 
WITH THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES, THOUGH A PAPAL TRIP TO RUSSIA 
REMAINS FOR NOW A DISTANT POSSIBILITY. AT ASSISI THE VATICAN 
ALSO TOOK THE OCCASION TO SHOWCASE THE ORIENTAL CHURCHES -- 
E.G. THE SYRO ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE OF ANTIOCH, THE ARMENIAN 
APOSTOLIC CHURCH, THE ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA, ETC. 
-- WHOSE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WERE A MEDIA SENSATION IN THEIR 
STRIKING CLERICAL GARB. THEIR PRESENCE IN ASSISI WAS A 
SALIENT REMINDER THAT THE OVERARCHING ISSUE FOR THE VATICAN 
IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND OFTEN ELSEWHERE IS THE PROTECTION OF 
IMPERILED CHRISTIAN MINORITIES.  FINALLY, AND MOST IMPORTANT 
IN THE NEAR TERM, THE ASSISI MEETING PROVIDED AN INTERFAITH 
IMPRIMATUR TO THE VATICAN'S POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS STRATEGY 
TO ENSURE THAT THE AFTERMATH OF SEPTEMBER 11 DOES NOT EVOLVE 
INTO A WAR BETWEEN RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS. 
 
ALL ABOARD! TICKETS ON THE PEACE TRAIN. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        VATICA  00521  02 OF 03  040621Z 
------------------------------------------- 
 
9.  IN A FITTING SYMBOL, JOHN PAUL II AND OVER 300 RELIGIOUS 
LEADERS DEPARTED TOGETHER FOR ASSISI FROM THE VATICAN RAIL 
STATION, ITS FIRST USE FOR PAPAL TRAVEL SINCE 1979.  DUBBED 
THE PEACE TRAIN, IT WAS A MEDIA METAPHOR FOR THE ASSISI 
MEETING, EMBARKING THE RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP ON A JOURNEY WITH 
A COMMON PURPOSE. IN MANY RESPECTS, ASSISI WAS A FORUM FOR 
POLITICS BY OTHER MEANS, NOT JUST FOR THE VATICAN BUT FOR 
OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS, TOO, WHO WERE FURNISHED A READY-MADE 
STAGE ON WHICH TO ATTEST THEIR COMMITMENT TO PEACE AND 
DIALOG. 
 
FOSTERING CROSS-CULTURAL DIALOG. 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4332 
 
PAGE 01        VATICA  00521  03 OF 03  040622Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    ACQ-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00  DS-00 
      VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   VCE-00   NEA-00 
      DCP-01   NSAE-00  SS-00    T-00     SNIS-00  NISC-00  DSCC-00 
      DRL-02   SAS-00     /004W 
                  ------------------6174FE  040622Z /38 
P 040601Z FEB 02 
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 
INFO ALGERIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
ISLAMIC CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL MARSEILLE PRIORITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 VATICAN 000521 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/WE (D. MENNUTI); DRL/IRF (T.FARR) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2012 
TAGS: IT, PHUM, PREL, VT 
SUBJECT: THE ASSISI WORLD DAY FOR PEACE.  THE VATICAN TAKES 
ON THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS. 
 
10. (SBU) WHILE THE FACT OF ISLAMIC TURNOUT AT ASSISI WAS 
PROMISING, IT WAS LIMITED. SANT'EGIDIO LEADERS LAMENTED TO 
POLOFF THE DIFFICULTY IN DEVELOPING A BASE OF MUSLIM 
INTERLOCUTORS OPEN TO THE MESSAGE OF DIALOG.  MOREOVER, 
INTERESTED MUSLIM RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE NOT NECESSARILY 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  00521  03 OF 03  040622Z 
PREPARED TO ADOPT A PUBLIC STANCE IN FAVOR OF DIALOG. 
 
10. (C)  POLOFF RETURNED FROM ASSISI TO ROME IN THE COMPANY 
OF A LONGSTANDING MULSIM COLLABORATOR OF SANT'EGIDIO, A 
FRANCOPHONE ALGERIAN PROFESSOR IN MECCA WHO PARTICIPATED 
UNOFFICIALLY IN THE INTERFAITH GATHERING.  MUHAMMED ESSLIMANI 
(STRICTLY PROTECT) TOLD POLOFF THAT HE HAS BEEN WAGING AN 
UPHILL BATTLE WITH FACULTY COLLEAGUES ON THE MERITS OF 
OUTREACH TO THE NON-MUSLIM RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, 
SEPTEMBER 11, HE SAID, HERALDED A SEA CHANGE. RELIGIOUS 
LEADERS NOW INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED THAT ISLAM HAD A DUTY TO 
ADDRESS THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED IN ITS NAME AND TO COMBAT 
WIDESPREAD IGNORANCE ABOUT NON-MUSLIMS.  HE ADDED THAT SOME 
FORMERLY CRITICAL COLLEAGUES, WHO THEMSELVES ESCHEWED ALL 
CONTACT WITH NON-MUSLIMS, HAD NOW EXPRESSED NEWFOUND 
APPRECIATION FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL OUTREACH.  NONETHELESS, 
THERE WAS GREAT IGNORANCE CONCERNING NON-MUSLIMS, A NEED FOR 
EDUCATION, AND FOR CONTACT WITH NON-MUSLIM RELIGIOUS LEADERS 
OF GOOD WILL. HE REGRETTED THAT THE FEW MUSLIM LEADERS WHO 
PRESENT THEMSELVES AS SO-CALLED MODERATES LACK REAL 
THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS AND CREDIBILITY, HARSHLY DENOUNCING 
THE MUFTI OF MARSEILLES IN PARTICULAR.  IT WAS IMPERATIVE TO 
DEVELOP A NEW RELIGIOUS GENERATION WITHIN THE ARAB WORLD, HE 
SAID, EXPLAINING HIS DISCREET COLLABORATION WITH SANT'EGIDIO 
AND HIS UNOFFICIAL PRESENCE AT THE ASSISI MEETING. 
NICHOLSON 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
> 
 

 2002VATICA00521 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL