This is the ultimate installment of a three-part interview series with Archbishop Paul Gallagher: Read Part I and Part II.
In the ultimate a part of his exclusive interview with America, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states, speaks in regards to the positive relationship between the Vatican and the Biden administration and the importance of the Holy See’s adherence to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. He also speaks in regards to the pope’s visit to Canada and the opportunity of papal trips to other countries. He concludes by expressing his hopes for the way the situation on the planet will develop in the approaching two to 3 years.
U.S.-Vatican Relations
Obviously, there are other areas besides the Holy Land where you might be working closely with the USA.
I’d say that our exchanges with the Biden administration are frequent, particularly through the U.S. embassy to the Holy See. They arrive and tell us things that they’re working on, and we obviously be aware of those things, and we make our comments on them. Sometimes we don’t at all times respond in the way in which that they would need. Nevertheless it is a really positive relationship within the sense that I don’t think we’ve any hesitation to approach [them]—whether it’s the embassy or the State Department or the White House. They usually don’t have any hesitation to do the identical here, which I feel may be very positive because that’s not at all times the case in bilateral relations.
So compared with the previous administration, it’s easier now.
“It’s a really positive relationship within the sense that I don’t think we’ve any hesitation to approach [them]—whether it’s the embassy or the State Department or the White House.”
Even with the previous administration there was lots of exchange with the embassy here; but, frankly speaking, I feel we found that we didn’t see quite as eye-to-eye with the previous administration as we do with this one. Obviously, we’ve difficulties with this administration as well, that are well-known. But at the identical time, there are other issues on which we are able to work thoroughly. Many of the positions, I’d say, are issues on which each side recognize the importance and sometimes the sensitivity of the problems, and we’ve often quite differing views, but then there’s a desire to exchange.
Could you list a few of those issues?
Well, I feel if you happen to take something like migration. Migration is something that could be a very vital issue for the USA of America; it’s also a vital issue for Central America, which after all I do know thoroughly. And we view it in another way. We would love to see a more positive approach. America will defend its position by saying, “America is amazingly generous in its migration policy.” Like many parts of the world today, they’ve understandably great difficulty with irregular migration, people pouring across borders. How do you cope with that?
At times, we express concern at how persons are treated, at how sometimes individuals who have been in the USA for a lot of, a few years are eventually deported. We’ve had great difficulty in understanding that. We also reflect very much most of the positions of the American bishops and of the American Catholic people of their criticism of those issues.
“Frankly speaking, I feel we found that we didn’t see quite as eye-to-eye with the previous administration as we do with this one.”
Convention on Climate Change
The Holy See recently acceded to the U.N. climate convention and the Paris agreement. Could you explain the importance of that?
We’re talking in regards to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is a fundamental juridical instrument inspiring what the international community has been doing to tackle climate change, and its Paris agreement, adopted in 2015. The Holy See, as a way to give you the option to stick to this convention and to the agreement, has needed to make an infinite effort. It’s been achieved only by the great will of the varied departments of the Holy See and the Vatican City working together to make this possible. That basically needs recognition. So for the Vatican City State, specifically, that is a vital moment.
What it means on the broader scene is that the Holy See was the last state to comply with the convention on climate, and due to this fact this convention now’s a universal convention; really everybody is on board. Obviously, the challenges are immense, however it does mean that there’s the prospect—when in September our adherence to the Paris agreement becomes effective—that we are able to take part in the twenty seventh United Nations Climate Change Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, November 2022, as a state party to each the convention and the agreement. That may enable us to give you the option to make an even bigger contribution, and it signifies that the position of the Holy See, which is expressed above all in “Laudato Si’,” will probably be way more coherent. With the adherence to the convention we’re putting our money where our mouth is.
“With the adherence to the climate convention we’re putting our money where our mouth is.”
It just isn’t going to be a simple road. Sometimes things are harder for the smallest states; they’ve some major changes due to the concentration of the territory. But there’s lots of goodwill. And I feel that we’ll give you the option to proceed within the decarbonization that the Holy See is committed to by 2050 and to creating other improvements within the environment. I feel that this will probably be a source of encouragement for a lot of others who’re battling these issues.
Looking Ahead
What things would you prefer to see happening on the planet in the following two to 3 years?
We would like to see an end to the war in Ukraine. I feel that is the thing that has caused biggest suffering, biggest pain and biggest anxiety in recent a long time. That is producing various crises: the availability chain crisis, the food crisis, [threatening] security basically, the longer term of Europe. I’m involved with all these issues.
Undoubtedly, one in all the massive questions goes to be the grain coming out of Ukraine and Russia now—or not coming out of Ukraine and Russia. What’s going to be the impact of that on various parts of the world, particularly North Africa, Egypt? This stuff are really great concerns.
I’d prefer to see us coming to terms with the migration, and particularly the trafficking of individuals within the migration crisis.
I’d prefer to see what we’ve just been talking about Israel and Palestine, where we’d prefer to see direct negotiations.
“We would like to see an end to the war in Ukraine. I feel that is the thing that has caused biggest suffering, biggest pain and biggest anxiety in recent a long time.”
I do know the Holy Father may be very keen to see greater political stability in Latin America. I would love to see greater political stability in Nicaragua, where the nuncio was expelled; that’s for us an actual source of great regret.
In Myanmar, we absolutely would love to see reestablishment of the democratic regime, and we’d prefer to see the tip of the conflict there, which might be taking more lives than we learn about.
Those are among the things that come to mind. But when we had a map here, I could probably say way more.
What would you prefer to see occur on the United Nations? Because the establishment of the United Nations, the Vatican has at all times believed that it will probably be an actual place for dialogue and has at all times supported it. But now we see Russia, one in all the five members of the U.N. Security Council, throwing the U.N. charter within the dustbin.
For a few years, people have desired to see a reform of the Security Council, but that is taken into account to be unattainable due to the hold that the five everlasting members have over that process. But I feel a reform growing out of the General Assembly is something which one would love to see.
At the identical time, I feel we’ve to be slightly bit careful about how critical we’re of the United Nations. It’s true that perhaps the organization has difficulty finding solutions to situations, however the U.N. can also be the organization that brings peacekeeping missions to the world, which helps people survive in conflicts and helps the issues of food distribution through the varied agencies. It’s not all doom and gloom. There are lots of things that do work. But there’s also, I feel understandably, great frustration at the way in which that the organization is perceived to work, particularly out of Latest York and Geneva.
How would you prefer to see the connection develop between the Holy See and China?
We would love to see the Catholic community find itself ready to make an even bigger contribution to the longer term and the well-being of the Chinese people. I feel that we’re slightly bit inhibited by the situation in the intervening time, and I feel that Catholicism, because it’s lived out by its people, has loads to supply. The Chinese people, in recent a long time, have made enormous steps forward in material prosperity and within the creation of their institutions and the solidity of their society. At the identical time, I would love to think that the Catholics could share with their fellow Chinese the spiritual riches that form a part of our tradition.
“I would love to think that the Catholics could share with their fellow Chinese the spiritual riches that form a part of our tradition.”
You’ve been to Japan. What do you say as you reflect on the assassination of former Prime Minister Abe in what is largely a really peaceful country?
The assassination may be very shocking. I met Mr. Abe once I went to Japan 5 – 6 years ago. He was most gracious in receiving our delegation. His assassination has shaken Japanese society to its roots. However the institutions in Japan are very strong, as is the people’s commitment to their shared values and to their institutions. And clearly the monarchy holds a revered and a special place inside that society. I’m very optimistic that they are going to resist this.
The Pope’s Visit to Canada
We’re on the eve of the pope’s visit to Canada. What’s your hope for this visit? It’s a fragile visit.
Well, it’s a part of a process, isn’t it? As you understand, Indigenous representatives came over Pope Benedict and had a gathering with him in 2009. Last March and April, delegations of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis visited Pope Francis, and the series of audiences that he granted them were good exchanges on each side. The pope is returning to face this reality on Canadian turf.
“We’re definitely hoping and praying that it’ll be one more step on the trail of reconciliation that the Catholic Church in Canada has been undertaking for a very long time now.”
As you say, it’s a fragile visit; it’ll draw attention to the suffering and to among the terrible things that unfolded previously, particularly, toward Indigenous peoples and with regard to the residential school system. You possibly can’t foresee exactly what’s going to come out of this. But we’re definitely hoping and praying that it’ll be one more step on the trail of reconciliation that the Catholic Church in Canada has been undertaking for a very long time now. The Holy Father is coming there to supply encouragement, to precise deep regret and sorrow and to request pardon for what has happened previously.
The visit to Canada is going on, but two earlier visits were canceled: to Lebanon and to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Are these African trips prone to go ahead, presuming the Canada visit goes well?
If the visit to Canada goes well, particularly from the Holy Father’s physical viewpoint, then I feel that he’ll go to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. This was reasserted by Cardinal Parolin’s visit to each countries on behalf of the pope.
As for Lebanon, the pope has already given an understanding that he’ll visit the country. We discover very strongly with the Lebanese people at the moment.
Will he visit India in 2023 if his health is nice?
As you understand, Prime Minister Modi made the invitation very loudly and really publicly when he visited the Holy Father in October 2021. I feel the pope would love to go to India; that has been one in all his priorities in recent times. We’ll need to see what 2023 brings.
Pope Francis has said he intends to go to Kazakhstan in September and will perhaps meet the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill. Is that visit prone to go ahead, and can Francis meet Kirill notwithstanding the patriarch’s support for the war against Ukraine?
The pope has accepted the invitation from the president of Kazakhstan to go to the Congress of World Religions, and if the patriarch goes, one supposes they are going to meet. But how they are going to meet and in what context they are going to meet stays to be seen.