Pope John Paul II insists on having representatives in all world countries and flashpoints, says Le Monde

PARIS, December 26 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – The Vatican, under Pope John Paul II, has recently become more activated, bidding to find a political role to play on the international arena through effective  participation in settling international problems, leading French newspaper Le Monde said Thursday, December 26.

This role become more evident during 2002 through several attempts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as well as statements on the U.S.-led war on terror and the looming war on Iraq, said Le Monde.

Trying to play a role, the Vatican even tried to interfere in the European Union agreements and treaties, the paper said, adding that Pope John Paul met October 3 with Valery Giscard d'Estaing, the official in charge of the E.U. expansion file, to underline the importance of a Christian terms of reference in the E.U. constitution.

According to Le Monde, the Catholic Church launched contacts in 2002 with politicians in more than 167 countries, twice the level of Vatican contacts in 1978 when the pontiff was elected.

In order to maintain a presence on the international arena, the Vatican adopted an approach whereby it keeps contacts with every one.

Elaborating, Le Monde cited the pontiff's opposition to American pressures to sever ties with Fidel Castro and his trip to Cuba in January 1998 to demonstrate keenness on maintaining ties with all world countries.

Jean Gueguinou, France's UNESCP representative, told Le Monde that the increasing role of the Vatican and the Church in political issues has become worrisome.

Countries have become more keen on developing ties with the Vatican at any cost, including invitations to the pontiff. This, argued Gueguinou, gives a religious legitimacy to any treaty concluded by the governments of such countries.

In this respect, Le Monde cited the keenness of the Italian parliament to invite Pope John Paul on December 14.

The pontiff's address was received by a standing ovation from scores of lawmakers who were keen on going to Montecitorio Palace to listen to the pontiff.

Moreover, Pope John Paul insists on having representatives in all world countries and flashpoints, said the French newspaper.

The Vatican was also keen on demonstrating friendship with some Islamic countries, said Le Monde, recalling that the Vatican sent representatives to the U.N. Population Summit, hosted by Cairo in 1994,  and the Women summit in China in 1995.

The paper also highlighted an increasing Vatican diplomatic presence in Ireland, Brussels and  France.

Le Monde named four veteran diplomats serving the pontiff's goals, including Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican man of diplomacy in Latin America who was appointed a minister in the Vatican state in December 1990.

The French Jean-Louis Tauran is the official in charge of Vatican external relations and acting as Vatican foreign minister, added the paper. Most of his activities have been centered in Lebanon and the Middle East, and he is the official in charge of normalization with Israel.

Sodano and Tauran have been the diplomatic representatives of Pope Paul for the past 12 years.

According to Le Monde, Christian groups are especially active in countries plagued by war and poverty, which boosts the role of the Vatican.

Professor Andrea Riccardi of Rome University and founder of the Sant 'Egidio society, told Le Monde that members of his society are very active in Africa, especially in Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Mozambique, Congo and Guniea.

The role of the society, he said, is to resist the repercussions of war and poverty in these countries, which accords it importance in the continent.

Sant 'Egidio's activities are not confined to Africa but extends to include Latin America where it mediated the release of four detainees held by Colombian rebels.

On whether the aim of the active Vatican diplomatic endeavors was to maintain Europe as a Christian continent, Riccardi stressed that Christianity can not operate alone, noting that secularism has an important influence in several European countries.

European constitutions must take into consideration the sovereignty of Christianity and secularism, he said.