The call of Parolin at the end of August is “very important”, Pope Francis is “very esteemed and loved” by the Rusian people. Trump? The relations between Russia and the Vatican do not depend on other countries.
The call that Cardinal Pietro Parolin will make to Moscow at the end of the month, where he will meet President Vladimir Putin, “is a very important event, because in the world of today Pope Francis “is a very influential man”and “ he is very esteemed and very loved” by the Russian people: says the Russian Ambassador Alexander Avdeev at the Holy See, who in this interview remarks the great “harmony” between Russia and Vatican City, starting with the situation in Ukraine and Syria, where, he underlines, “ it is clear that danger of terrorism can be eliminated only with the complete defeat of Isis”. Regarding the administration of Donald Trump in Washington, the relations between Russia and Vatican City, affirms the diplomatist of Moscow at the apostolical Palace, have their own value and a big positive impact on the situation on the world. They do not depend on another country.
Your Excellency, what do you expect from the call of Cardinal Parolin to Russia?
“We trust that the visit of the secretary of the Vatican State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will contribute to a further happy development of the bilateral relations between the Holy See and Russia. We have the most important premises for that to happen: a high level of mutual trust and a great harmony on many issues. The perfect atmosphere for such relations is reinforced also by the good relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Patriarchate of Moscow. This fact represents a direct consequence of the meeting, held in Cuba, between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill”.
“It will be anavoidable no to face the context of international activities where Russia has a more active presence, like the topic of the Middle East, Syria or Ukraine, country that I visited last year”, recently said Cardinal Parolin: What is the point of view of Moscow on Syria and Ukraine and what real convergences there are with the Holy See?
The highest Russian authorities pay the greatest importance to the call of Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Moscow. This is an important event to the Kremlin, because in the world of today Pope Fracis is a very influential authority. Certainly, the situations of Middle East, especially of Syria will be discussed, as well as other conflicts in the world. We have a great harmony in the way of approaching several issues with the Vatican City: first of all, we believe that all conflicts should be resolved through talks and negotiations. It is necessary to persevere with the international efforts in order to find a solution of the situation of Syria, continuing the processes of Astana and Geneva, keeping high the flag of the fight against Isis. Already now, it is clear that the danger of terrorism can be settled only with the complete defeat of Isis. Regarding Ukraine, The Vatican like Russia, recall all the parties involved into the conflict in order to respect the agreements of Minsk. Besides, we always have to think of the peple living in the areas of the conflict who are in an extreme need of humanitarian aids and human compassion.”
What kind of co-operation can be carry out betweewn Russia and the Holy See with regard to Christians and other Middle-eastern ethnical and religious minorities who suffer now a cruel persecution, and, sticking to more general considerations, with regard to the present and future of the Middle East?
“Russsia and the Holy See have the welfare of Christians and Middle-eastern ethnical minorities living in the Middle East at heart. We have thought of and realized several conferences about this topic in the milieu of the “Committee for the Human Rights” in Geneva. In Russia there is a strong perception of the fact that in Middle East is the country of Christ, the country of the Christian civilization, and that without Christian believers this region would loose his historic importance. The same is true for the situation of ethnical minorities in the Middle East: they represent the cultural and anthropologic patrimony of this area. The people who are suffering because of the ongoing war are hundred of thousands. Russia and the Vatican share very similar valuations and attitudes towards possible settlements of the crisis”.
Cardinal Parolin will meet both President Vladimir Putin and the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow and all Russias, Patriarch Kirill: what does it mean to the Kremlin the historic meeting between the Pope and Patriarch Kirill in Cuba?
“Russians consider the meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill an event of civilization. Such an event, in our opinion, should match a further development of the co-operation and dialogue between the two Churches and among their believers. This facts would contribute to reinforce also the relations between the Holy See and Russia.”
From the letter written by the Pope to President Putin as president of G20, when a wake of prayer in St. Peter Square for the peace in Syria was held, relations between Pope Francis and the Kremlin seem now characterized by co-operation: what does represent the Bishop of Rome who came from Latin America to the Russian president?
“For us Russians the leader of the Catholic Church, coming from Latin America, as you say, is an eminent personality of the world, very esteemed and loved by the citizens of my Country”.
How the relations between the Holy See and Russia might be evolving now that President Donald Trump is in Washington?
“Relations between Russia and the Holy See have their own historical logic. They have their own value and a great positive impact on the situation of the world. They do not depend on other countries.”
