Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin has congratulated the new president-elect, expressing his respect for the US democratic process that led to his election and the hope that Trump will work in service of his country as well as for the well-being and peace of the world.
Your Eminence, what do you have to say about Trump's election?
"First of all, we need to respectfully accept the will of the American people in this exercise of democracy which was marked by a significant electoral turnout and thus significant popular participation. We congratulate the new president and hope his governance may truly be fruitful. We assure him of our prayers that the Lord may enlighten him and sustain him in service to his country but also in service to the well-being and peace of the world. I believe that today there is need for all of us to work to change the global situation, which is a situation of grave wounds, of grave conflict."
What are the Holy See's wishes for US foreign policy?
"The hope is that that great country can exercise a role of peace and diplomacy, intervening to facilitate common solutions to conflicts. The hope is that the United States will use their influence to build those bridges Francis has tirelessly been calling for and that with the help of the United Nations and Europe they may be decisive in resolving the crises that afflict the Middle East. Think, for example, of the tragedy in Syria: the Holy See keeps insisting that the population's immense suffering is relieved through negotiation. Millions of people are victims of senseless violence. Sadly we have received ample confirmation that crises are not resolved through war but through courageous decisions of peace. We hope that the culture of dialogue, encounter and negotiation will never be lost in international relations.
In recent months there was controversy over the words the Pope pronounced on migrants at the end of his visit to Mexico. What is going to happen?
"We will see what the new president's moves are. They say it's one thing to be a candidate and another thing to be president, having such an important responsibility... It seems to me, from the initial statements I have heard him pronounce, that Trump has already underlined his intention to be a president for all Americans, leader of the entire country. As far as specific issues go, we shall see what choices the new administration is going to make. On the basis of this we will be able to form an opinion. It seems premature to make judgements.”
What are you most concerned about in today's world?
"The millions of children that are forced to leave their homes, the thousands of unaccompanied minors who fall prey to abuse and exploitation. The fate of peoples who are innocent victims of war. Political and multilateral efforts are needed in order to remove the root causes of the vast movement and forced displacement of peoples, in other words conflicts, violence, human rights violations, environmental degradation, extreme poverty, the trade and trafficking of arms, corruption and sinister commercial and financial plans."
