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| Identifier: | 02VATICAN5545 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 02VATICAN5545 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Vatican |
| Created: | 2002-11-14 13:56:00 |
| Classification: | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Tags: | PHUM PREL PGOV VT PREL PGOV VT PREL PGOV VT PREL PGOV VT IS ISPHUM ISPHUM ISPHUM |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 VATICAN 005545
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR-BJONES AND EUR/WE-MENNUTI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2012
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, VT, PREL, PGOV, VT, PREL, PGOV, VT, PREL, PGOV, VT, IS, ISPHUM, ISPHUM, ISPHUM
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE EFFORTS TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM IN EUROPE
REF: A) VATICAN 3634 B) 01 VATICAN 839
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON, REASONS: E.O. 12958 1.5 (B) AN
D (D).
-------
SUMMARY
-------
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 VATICA 05545 01 OF 04 141510Z
1. (C) POPE JOHN PAUL II HAS SPOKEN OUT FORCEFULLY AND
CONSISTENTLY AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM IN EUROPE AND AGAINST
SPECIFIC ANTI-SEMITIC ACTS. HE ACKNOWLEDGES THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH'S SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM -- IN
PART BASED ON THE CHURCH'S SELF-ACKNOWLEDGED HISTORICAL
&SIN8 OF PROMOTING ANTI-JUDAISM (RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION)
IN EUROPE. THROUGHOUT HIS PONTIFICATE, THE POPE HAS SOUGHT TO
TURN THIS AWARENESS OF PAST ERRORS INTO A RESOLVE TO OVERCOME
THIS HISTORICAL ANTI-JUDAISM AND TO COMBAT EUROPEAN
ANTI-SEMITISM (ETHNIC DISCRIMINATION). TO THIS END, THE POPE
HAS RADICALLY TRANSFORMED THE HOLY SEE'S RELATIONS WITH JEWS,
REDEFINING THE JEWISH RELIGION AS INTRINSIC TO CHRISTIANITY
AND PART OF A COMMON HERITAGE, WHILE ACTIVELY DEEPENING THE
CHURCH'S DIALOGUE WITH JEWS. BUILDING ON THE SECOND VATICAN
COUNCIL'S REAPPRAISAL OF CATHOLICISM'S RELATIONSHIP TO
JUDAISM, THE HOLY SEE HAS TAKEN SYSTEMIC MEASURES TO ADDRESS
ITS ROLE IN HISTORICAL ANTI-SEMITISM AND TO CHANGE ITS
PRACTICE. ASIDE FROM PUBLIC AND DOCTRINAL STATEMENTS, IT
ACTIVELY PROMOTES AN AWARENESS OF THE ERROR OF ANTI-JUDAISM
AND ANTI-SEMITISM IN ITS MANY CATHOLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
THESE TENETS ARE ALSO PROMOTED BY BISHOPS' CONFERENCES IN
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND ARE PREACHED REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE
CONTINENT. CATHOLIC LAY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE
SANT'EGIDIO COMMUNITY ENGAGE IN FREQUENT DIALOGUE AND
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, WITH THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE HOLY SEE.
END SUMMARY.
----------------------------------------
JPII: AN ACTIVIST AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM
----------------------------------------
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 VATICA 05545 01 OF 04 141510Z
2. (U) JOHN PAUL II'S EFFORTS TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM STEM IN
PART FROM HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES GROWING UP IN A TOWN WITH
A LARGE JEWISH POPULATION, DEFENDING JEWISH FRIENDS FROM
ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS, AND WITNESSING HIS FELLOW COUNTRYMEN
AND WOMEN BEING SHIPPED TO NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMPS. FROM
THE POPE'S EARLY STUDIES HE CAME TO THE VIEW THAT
ANTI-SEMITES WERE ANTI-CHRISTIAN. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE DEVELOPED
A STRONG PERSONAL CONVICTION OF THE INHERENT DIGNITY OF ALL
HUMAN BEINGS; AND THREATS TO THIS DIGNITY HAVE ALMOST BECOME
PERSONAL "CAUSES" FOR THIS POPE. THE POPE HAS ASSERTED THAT
THE CHURCH MUST ATONE FOR THE HISTORICAL EXISTENCE OF
ANTI-JUDAISM IN CHRISTIAN EUROPE THAT AT LEAST IN PART
CREATED A FOUNDATION FOR THE RACIAL ANTI-SEMITISM OF THE
TWENTIETH CENTURY.
3. (U) IT IS THEREFORE NO COINCIDENCE THAT UNDER JOHN PAUL II
THE VATICAN HAS UNDERTAKEN NUMEROUS SYMBOLIC AND PRACTICAL
STEPS TO BUILD ON VATICAN II REFORMS AND REACH OUT TO JEWS --
MOST DRAMATICALLY WHEN THE POPE VISITED ROME'S SYNAGOGUE IN
1986, AND JERUSALEM'S WAILING WALL IN 2000. IN FACT, WHEN
POPE JOHN PAUL II STEPPED INTO ROME'S SYNAGOGUE IN APRIL
1986, HE WAS THE FIRST POPE IN 1,900 YEARS TO TAKE THAT STEP.
THROUGHOUT HIS PONTIFICATE, HE HAS MERGED SUCH DRAMATIC,
SYMBOLIC STEPS, SUCH AS HIS VISIT TO AUSCHWITZ IN POLAND,
WITH A NEW CONCEPTUAL APPROACH TO CATHOLIC-JEWISH RELATIONS
EMBODIED IN AN ARRAY OF STATEMENTS AND EXHORTATIONS. THESE
STATEMENTS, WHICH BEGAN WITH THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL'S
NOSTRA AETATE IN 1965 AND INCLUDE "WE REMEMBER: A REFLECTION
ON THE SHOAH," HAVE EMPHASIZED THE CHURCH'S REJECTION OF ALL
FORMS OF PERSECUTION, ITS SHARED SPIRITUAL HERITAGE WITH
JUDAISM, AND A RECOGNITION OF AND REPENTANCE FOR PAST ERRORS.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 VATICA 05545 01 OF 04 141510Z
--------------------------
WHAT THE HOLY SEE IS DOING
--------------------------
4. (U) THE CHURCH HAS ORGANIZED ITSELF SINCE VATICAN II TO
ENGAGE IN AN OPEN DIALOGUE WITH OTHER FAITHS, INCLUDING THE
ORTHODOX, BUT IN PARTICULAR, WITH THE JEWISH FAITH.
REFLECTING THE POPE'S COMMITMENT, HE HAS PUT SOME OF HIS BEST
PEOPLE ON THIS TASK. GERMAN CARDINAL WALTER KASPER, ONE OF
THE VATICAN'S MOST OPEN AND PERCEPTIVE INTERLOCUTORS, FOR
EXAMPLE, HEADS THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY,
WHICH INCLUDES RESPONSIBILITY FOR DIALOGUE WITH JEWS, AND IS
CHARGED WITH FOSTERING A BETTER MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF BOTH
RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS. KASPER SAID OCTOBER 18, IN REFERENCE
TO OPENING THE HOLOCAUST-ERA VATICAN ARCHIVES, THAT THE
CHURCH SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO CONFRONT ITS PAST. MORE
RECENTLY, ON NOVEMBER 6 HE OFFERED A THREE-POINT ACTION PLAN
FOR THE ON-GOING FIGHT AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM FOCUSING ON
REVISING RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL TEXTS, INCREASING PERSONAL
ENCOUNTERS WITH JEWISH PEOPLE, AND STUDYING JEWISH HISTORY.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTO8477
PAGE 01 VATICA 05545 02 OF 04 141511Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DS-00 VC-00
TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 DHS-00 EPAE-00
DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 SAS-00 /003W
------------------086D95 141519Z /38
R 141356Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 VATICAN 005545
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR-BJONES AND EUR/WE-MENNUTI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2012
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, VT, IS
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE EFFORTS TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM IN EUROPE
5. (U) BEYOND KASPER'S DIALOGUE, THE HOLY SEE IS HIGHLY
ATTUNED TO ANY INCIDENT THAT MIGHT SMACK OF RESURGENT
ANTI-SEMITISM. FOR EXAMPLE, THE POPE QUICKLY SENT A MESSAGE
WHEN IT SEEMED JEWISH GRAVES IN ROME'S VERANO CEMETERY HAD
BEEN DESECRATED EARLIER THIS YEAR (REF A). THE POPE'S
LEADERSHIP IN THIS REGARD IS REFLECTED IN VIRTUALLY ALL OF
THE EUROPEAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCES, WHICH HAVE EITHER
ISSUED DOCUMENTS OR MADE STATEMENTS IN THE MEDIA CONDEMNING
ANTI-SEMITISM GENERALLY AND SPECIFIC ANTI-SEMITIC ACTS.
EUROPEAN BISHOPS CONFERENCES WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 VATICA 05545 02 OF 04 141511Z
AGAINST ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS, AS THE FRENCH BISHOPS DID WHEN
SYNAGOGUES IN FRANCE WERE DESECRATED IN APRIL THIS YEAR.
6. (U) AT THE OSCE, VATICAN FOREIGN POLICY ACTIVELY
SUPPORTS AND PROMOTES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND TOLERANCE IN
EUROPE. WHILE DEFENDING ITS OWN INTERESTS AND POSITION, IT
EMBRACES THE CAUSES OF ALL OTHER RELIGIONS FOR MUTUAL
BENEFIT. THE HOLY SEE'S REPRESENTATIVE IS WORKING WITH US TO
ENSURE RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION OR ANTI-SEMITISM ARE
CONDEMNED BY THE OSCE, AND THAT THE ORGANIZATION PUTS
PRESSURE ON OFFENDING GOVERNMENTS TO AMEND LEGISLATION AND
PRACTICES.
7. (U) THE RECENT ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INSTITUTE FOR
INTER-RELIGIOUS STUDIES AT THE PONTIFICAL GREGORIAN
UNIVERSITY AND THE OPENING OF THE LIBRARY FOR STUDIES IN
JUDAISM RUN BY THE SISTERS OF SION REFLECTS THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH'S CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING OF
NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS, ESPECIALLY JUDAISM. WE EXPECT MORE
CATHOLIC INSTITUTES OF HIGHER LEARNING TO ESTABLISH PROGRAMS
TO STUDY JUDAISM IN THE YEARS AHEAD. EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS
WILL CONTINUE TO BE A KEY COMPONENT OF THE HOLY SEE'S EFFORTS
TO COUNTER ANTI-SEMITISM. IN 1985, THE HOLY SEE RELEASED
"NOTES ON THE CORRECT WAY TO PRESENT THE JEWS AND JUDAISM IN
PREACHING AND CATECHESIS," A PRIMER DESIGNED TO PUT AN
DEFINITIVE END TO TEACHING OF JEWISH CULPABILITY IN CHRIST'S
DEATH. CENTURIES OF MISUNDERSTANDING WILL NEVERTHELESS TAKE
TIME TO CORRECT, BUT THE HOLY SEE'S EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS ARE
CONTRIBUTING TO THAT PROCESS.
8. (SBU) BEYOND THE VATICAN WALLS BUT WORKING CLOSELY WITH
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 VATICA 05545 02 OF 04 141511Z
THEM, ROME'S SANT'EGIDIO COMMUNITY (WHICH FOCUSES ON RELIEF
AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION AROUND THE WORLD) HAS MAINTAINED A
TWENTY-YEAR DIALOGUE WITH JUDAISM. ON THE OCTOBER 16
ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPORTATION OF ROME'S JEWS TO NAZI
EXTERMINATION CAMPS, SANT'EGIDIO FOUNDER ANDREA RICCARDI
EMPHASIZED THAT JEWS ARE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF ROME'S
IDENTITY. RICCARDI WARNED THAT "NEW WINDS OF ANTI-SEMITISM"
WERE BLOWING INTO EUROPE, AND SAID IT WAS KEY TO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE JEWS AND NEVER AGAIN TO ABANDON THEM.
RICCARDI, A RESPECTED HISTORIAN, MENTIONED A NUMBER OF
ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS THAT HAVE PEPPERED ROME'S RECENT PAST.
RICCARDI ALSO REPRESENTED THE SANT'EGIDIO COMMUNITY AT A
MEMORIAL EVENT AT ROME'S CITY HALL WHERE HE SPOKE ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING HISTORY IN FIGHT AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM.
THE SANT'EGIDIO COMMUNITY HOSTS THIS ANNUAL COMMEMORATION
AND CONDUCTS DURING THE YEAR A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL TRIPS
FOR ITALIAN CHILDREN TO THE ROME SYNAGOGUE AND JEWISH SCHOOL,
WITH THE FULL SUPPORT AND BACKING OF THE HOLY SEE ITSELF. IN
ADDITION, IT CONDUCTS AN IMPRESSIVE ANNUAL INTER-RELIGIOUS
DIALOGUE ENCOUNTER WITH ACTIVE HOLY SEE AND JEWISH
PARTICIPATION AIMED AT FOSTERING UNDERSTANDING AND
EMPHASIZING COMMON VALUES OF DIVERSE FAITHS IN THE SPIRIT OF
THE POPE'S 1986 ASSISI INTER-FAITH INITIATIVE.
--------------------------------------------- ---------
CURIAL VIEWS DIFFER ON STATE OF EUROPEAN ANTI-SEMITISM
--------------------------------------------- ---------
9. (C) DESPITE THE REAL PROGRESS MADE OVER THE LAST FORTY
YEARS IN THE VATICAN'S RELATIONS WITH JUDAISM AND THE STRONG
LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE OF POPE JOHN PAUL II, THE POPE'S AND
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 VATICA 05545 02 OF 04 141511Z
KASPER'S ENTHUSIASM IS NOT ALWAYS REFLECTED FROM ALL PARTS OF
THE CURIA. INDEED, SOME REMAIN SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE THREAT OF
RESURGENT ANTI-SEMITISM, REGARDING RECENT ATTACKS PRIMARILY
AS A REACTION OF DISAFFECTED MOSLEM IMMIGRANTS TO THE
SITUATION IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. AS ONE CONTACT
ASSERTED: "WHEN ISRAEL WITHDRAWS FROM THE TERRITORIES THE
ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS WILL GO AWAY."
10. (C) MOREOVER, ANTI-JUDAIC AND ANTI-SEMITIC SENTIMENTS
HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETELY ERADICATED FROM THE EUROPEAN MEMBERS
OF THE CURIA. IN A FEW CASES, WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED EUROPEAN
CURIAL OFFICIALS WHO HAVE MANIFESTED REMNANTS OF ANTI-SEMITIC
SENTIMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, AN OLDER DESK OFFICER OF FRENCH
ORIGIN COMPLAINED TO POLOFF THAT THE USG'S STRONG INTEREST IN
MODERN EUROPEAN ANTI-SEMITISM STEMMED FROM THE "EXCESSIVE
INFLUENCE OF JEWS IN YOUR MEDIA AND GOVERNMENT." HE WENT ON
TO UNDERSCORE THAT THE VATICAN SHARES USG CONCERNS ABOUT
RESURGENT EUROPEAN ANTI-SEMITISM, BUT THAT IT WASN'T QUITE AS
WORRIED AS THE USG APPEARED TO BE. HE CLAIMED THAT THE
JEWISH COMMUNITY IN EUROPE WAS NOW SO FULLY INTEGRATED THAT
THEIR JEWISHNESS IS MORE A RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION THAN A
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5731
PAGE 01 VATICA 05545 03 OF 04 141511Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PERC-00 DS-00
VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 EPAE-00
ECA-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 SAS-00 /003W
------------------086DA4 141519Z /38
R 141356Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 VATICAN 005545
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR-BJONES AND EUR/WE-MENNUTI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2012
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, VT, IS
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE EFFORTS TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM IN EUROPE
SOCIAL OR CULTURAL IDENTIFICATION. ANOTHER SENIOR CURIAL
REPRESENTATIVE ON ONE OCCASION TOLD A PREVIOUS AMBASSADOR
THAT THE VATICAN'S LEGAL PROBLEMS STEMMING FROM THE HOLOCAUST
ASSETS REPORT (REF B) WERE THE RESULT OF "JEWISH JUDGES
HAVING TOO MUCH INFLUENCE."
--------------------------------------------- --
JEWISH/ISRAELI PERSPECTIVES ON HOLY SEE EFFORTS
--------------------------------------------- --
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 VATICA 05545 03 OF 04 141511Z
11. (C) IN A NOVEMBER 13 CONVERSATION WITH THE AMBASSADOR,
RICCARDO DI SEGNI, CHIEF RABBI OF ROME, PRAISED THE HOLY SEE
FOR ITS ROLE IN DENYING ANTI-SEMITES A THEOLOGICAL BASIS FOR
THEIR PREJUDICE. HE SAID THAT THE VATICAN II REFORMS HAVE
"CUT THE TREE AT ITS ROOTS -- BUT THE ROOTS ARE STILL THERE,
WAITING FOR WATER." IN THAT REGARD HE BELIEVED THAT POPE
JOHN PAUL'S HIGHLY SYMBOLIC GESTURES SUCH AS THE 1986 VISIT
TO THE ROME SYNAGOGUE HAD DONE MUCH TO EDUCATE THE ITALIAN
AND EUROPEAN PUBLIC. REGARDING THE SCOPE OF THE
ANTI-SEMITISM PROBLEM, DE SEGNI MAINTAINED THAT EACH COUNTRY
HAS TO BE ANALYZED IN ITS OWN RIGHT. HE AGREED THAT MANY
RECENT ANTI-SEMITIC ACTS OF VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN
FRANCE, RESULTED LARGELY FROM FRUSTRATIONS OF DISAFFECTED
IMMIGRANT YOUTHS FROM NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST. SUCH
ATTACKS, HE SAID, WERE UNKNOWN IN ITALY. THE FRENCH
PHENOMENON WITH ITS MIDDLE EAST LINKS, HE BELIEVED, WAS
DIFFERENT FROM THE HISTORIC ANTI-SEMITISM THAT STILL EXISTS
IN EUROPE. CITING LOCAL SOCCER HOOLIGANS' USE OF THE WORD
"JEW" AS AN EPITHET, DE SEGNI INDICATED THAT ITALIAN
AUTHORITIES NEEDED TO WORK HARDER BOTH TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC
AND CREATE A MORE JUST ECONOMIC ORDER, SO THAT MARGINALIZED
PEOPLE DO NOT MISTAKENLY TARGET JEWS TO EXPRESS THEIR
DISAFFECTION.
12. (C) OUR ISRAELI EMBASSY CONTACTS ALSO WELCOMED THE POPE'S
PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM AND HIS MANY
IMPORTANT SYMBOLIC ACTS DURING HIS PAPACY. THEY NOTED THAT
THE COMMITMENT TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM WAS INCORPORATED IN
THE "FUNDAMENTAL ACT" AGREEMENT THAT FORMED THE BASIS OF
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE HOLY SEE AND ISRAEL, AND WAS
THUS BOTH A LEGAL AND MORAL COMMITMENT FOR THE HOLY SEE. THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 VATICA 05545 03 OF 04 141511Z
ISRAELI EMBASSY HAS IN RECENT TIMES FOUND THE HOLY SEE SLOWER
TO RAISE ITS VOICE IN RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC ACTS AND RELUCTANT
TO REPEAT ITS CONDEMNATIONS OF ANTI-SEMITISM OUT OF FEAR THAT
SUCH STATEMENTS WOULD BE INTERPRETED IN THE ARAB WORLD AS
SUPPORT FOR THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENTS POLICIES IN THE OCCUPIED
TERRITORIES. THE ISRAELI EMBASSY CONTINUES TO EMPHASIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THESE ISSUES SEPARATE, AND RECENTLY
FOUND SUPPORT FROM CARDINAL ROGER ETCHEGARAY, WHO PUBLICLY
STATED THAT CRITICISM OF ISRAELI POLICIES MUST NEVER SLIP
INTO REDUCED VIGILANCE AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM. THE EMBASSY,
FOR ITS PART, IS WORKING WITH THE HOLY SEE TO DEVELOP
EDUCATIONAL AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AND TO SUPPORT THE STUDY OF
JUDAISM AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES. DESPITE THESE EFFORTS,
ISRAEL'S RELATIONS WITH THE HOLY SEE ARE CURRENTLY COOL AS A
RESULT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S HARD-LINE TACTICS IN THE WEST BANK
AND GAZA.
FROM THE CURIA'S PERSPECTIVE, THE SPIRAL OF VIOLENCE IN
ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES AND THE RESULTANT EXODUS
OF THE REGION'S CHRISTIANS, IS A MATTER OF PRIMARY CONCERN
AND A SUBJECT OF REPEATED PAPAL INTERVENTIONS.
-------
COMMENT
-------
13. (SBU) WE CAN CONTINUE TO COUNT ON THE HOLY SEE -- AND
THIS POPE IN PARTICULAR -- TO BE A VITAL PARTNER IN COMBATING
ANTI-SEMITISM IN EUROPE TODAY. DESPITE OCCASIONAL
DIFFICULTIES AND LINGERING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH AND JUDAISM, WE CAN CONTINUE TO COUNT ON THE HOLY SEE
TO SPEAK OUT, TEACH, PROVIDE MORAL AND SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE,
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 VATICA 05545 03 OF 04 141511Z
AND KEEP PRESSURE ON EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS TO COUNTER SIGNS OF
RESURGENT ANTI-SEMITISM. FOR EXAMPLE, THE HOLY SEE IS MORE
THAN WILLING TO USE BOTH ITS VOICE AND VOTE ON SUCH MORAL
ISSUES AS ANTI-SEMITISM AT EUROPEAN ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE
OSCE. POST WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE HOLY SEE TO
HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR VIGILANCE AGAINST RESURGENT
ANTI-SEMITISM, NO MATTER WHAT ITS ORIGIN. LAST WEEK, FOR
EXAMPLE, THE AMBASSADOR BEGAN COORDINATING WITH HOLY SEE
COM'S TO ENSURE THAT THE ANTI-SEMITISM THEME WILL BE PART OF
THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS' ANNUAL GREETING TO THE POPE, WHICH
SHAPES THE POPE'S ANNUAL DIPLOMATIC CORPS ADDRESS. IN
ADDITION, THE AMBASSADOR MEETS REGULARLY WITH ANTI-DEFAMATION
LEAGUE PRESIDENT ABRAHAM FOXMAN AND RELEVANT VATICAN
OFFICIALS TO KEEP THIS ISSUE IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR AGENDA
AND TO HIGHLIGHT U.S. CONCERNS. LATER THIS MONTH, THE
AMBASSADOR WILL BE RECEIVING THE "NOSTRA AETATE" AWARD IN NEW
YORK FROM THE CENTER FOR JEWISH-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS AT SACRED
HEART UNIVERSITY, REFLECTING HIS COMMITMENT TO COMBATING
ANTI-SEMITISM. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND ACTIVELY
PARTICIPATE IN SANT EGIDIO'S INTERFAITH ACTIVITIES AIMED AT
DEEPENING THE CATHOLIC-JEWISH DIALOGUE.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5733
PAGE 01 VATICA 05545 04 OF 04 141511Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DS-00 VC-00
TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00
DRL-02 SAS-00 /003W
------------------086DA6 141519Z /38
R 141356Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 VATICAN 005545
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR-BJONES AND EUR/WE-MENNUTI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2012
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, VT, IS
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE EFFORTS TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM IN EUROPE
NICHOLSON
SEMBLER
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2002VATICA05545 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
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