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). 
 
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SUMMARY 
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                       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 
 
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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 PREL PGOV VT PREL PGOV VT PREL PGOV VT IS ISPHUM ISPHUM ISPHUM
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 PREL PGOV VT PREL PGOV VT PREL PGOV VT IS ISPHUM ISPHUM ISPHUM
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. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶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 PREL PGOV VT PREL PGOV VT PREL PGOV VT IS ISPHUM ISPHUM ISPHUM
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE EFFORTS TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM IN EUROPE 
 
NICHOLSON 
SEMBLER 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
> 
 

 2002VATICA05545 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL