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Cablegate: Holy See: Ambassador Presses Vatican On Iraq

Published: Thu 26 Apr 2007 01:01 PM
VZCZCXRO8068
OO RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHFL RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHSR
DE RUEHROV #0081 1161344
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O P 261344Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0713
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0743
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000081
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/25/2017
TAGS: PREL VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE: AMBASSADOR PRESSES VATICAN ON IRAQ
REF: A) LARREA - EMBASSY VATICAN EMAIL APRIL 19, B) VATICAN 76, C) MARTIN - EUR/WE EMAIL APR 13
CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher Sandrolini, Charge d'affaires a.i.,
EXEC, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)
1. (C) The Ambassador raised ref (a) points on Iraq with the
Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States (FM equivalent),
Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, April 20. The Ambassador
emphasized the many positive developments that have occurred in
various parts of Iraq. He acknowledged that much work remained
to be done, but said that we didn't see how the papal comment on
the subject (ref b) was constructive under the circumstances.
2. (C) Mamberti said that he understood our concerns. He
admitted that there were at least some bright spots in some area
of the country, but insisted that the overall death toll was
overshadowing those developments. Pope Benedict was speaking
about the overall situation on the ground, he emphasized.
3. (C) The Ambassador reiterated out commitment to remain in
close contact with the Vatican on Iraq, and asked that the Holy
See offer forward-looking comments on the situation.
4. (C) Comment: The Ambassador's demarche, coupled with
lower-level conversations on the same subject (ref c), has been
noted by Holy See Secretariat of State personnel, according to
one of our close contacts. We will continue to press for
constructive comments from Vatican officials on Iraq.
SANDROLINI
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