Cardinal Parolin: Russia’s absence at Summit for Peace in Ukraine a limitation

By Salvatore Cernuzio

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin supported the High-Level Conference for Peace in Ukraine held this weekend in Switzerland, calling it “useful” but with “limitations , noted by many participants, of not having the support of Russia. presence.”

“Peace is always made together,” he said.

Cardinal Parolin was speaking on the sidelines of an event dedicated to peacebuilding at the Italian summit, Wednesday June 19. His comments referred to the conference in Lucerne, Switzerland, where he led the Vatican delegation present as an observer.

Just peace and principle of fraternity

“I have heard many people – and I liked – saying that we are not at war with Russia, we are here to find a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine,” the cardinal said , reiterating the importance of the adjective “just” associated with war. word peace: “A just peace… based on the principles of international law and strict respect for the Charter of the United Nations. »

This, continued the cardinal, must be accompanied “by the principle of fraternity, a meta-legal principle which also finds concrete applications in ordinances. If we do not make the effort to feel like brothers in this world, we will never be able to overcome conflicts. »

Lack of confidence

The “great problem we face today”, according to the Vatican Secretary of State, linked to the fact that “international organizations work little or not at all”, is “the absolute lack of mutual trust”: “We no longer trust us, and that is why conventional and nuclear arsenals are multiplying. Everyone wants to be sure to protect themselves from the other, in whom they no longer trust and no longer respect.

Economic interests fuel the arms trade

Behind the arms trade lie “major economic interests at stake,” the cardinal said, echoing the words of Pope Francis. These are words that governments and political parties don't seem to hear: when marketing criteria guides groups and governments, “it makes sense that the Pope can rightly call for an end to the proliferation of weapons, but this appeal will certainly not be heard.” “, declared Cardinal Parolin.

“The Pope is courageous because he continues to insist. It is a theme on which he emphasizes repeatedly, and we hope that little by little he will be able to make a dent,” he added.

Weapons in Ukraine

Asked about the debate between Italian political forces on sending weapons to Ukraine, the Secretary of State stressed that “the only way to resolve this problem is to unite and start talking without conditions; only then can the shipment of arms also be stopped.” “.

However, the Vatican secretary of state said, the first step is “to be able to start negotiations between the two parties (Russia and Ukraine), even in a very discreet and confidential way. Let the two sides start talking to each other.”

So yes, he said, the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin at a hypothetical dialogue table should certainly be considered: “Peace is made by both; otherwise, if one of them is missing, there can be no peace. »

Implementation of differentiated autonomy without creating imbalances

Cardinal Parolin also addressed the issue of “differentiated autonomy,” which is a law in Italy. The cardinal – who has spoken on this subject in the past – did not participate in the debate: “We should not comment on such questions; they are Italian; we do not have the specific competence to intervene.”

However, he stressed that “anything that contributes to promoting solidarity is good”.

Visit to Lebanon

Finally, Parolin confirmed his visit to Lebanon which, as expected by the Lebanese media, should take place at the end of June.

This is not a diplomatic visit, nor a peace mission to the Holy Land, in light of recent tensions with Israel which appear to be shifting the axis of conflict in the Middle East.

“I was invited by the local Order of Malta to visit their works, which have a great social impact in a situation of total crisis. The Lebanese crisis is 360°, and certainly, there we will try to work a little to help, as the diplomacy of the Holy See has always done, to find an institutional solution.”

Hope of peace fruits

After the meeting in the Senate, Cardinal Parolin participated, together with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, in an event with a multifaceted program dedicated to humanitarian and ethical issues.

On this occasion, he again engaged in a conversation about peace.

“Any situation where there is a risk that conflicts will spread, deepen and fester can only produce great unease,” the Vatican secretary of state said in response to a question about the implications of an Israeli offensive in Lebanon.

“The visit was planned,” he explained, “without being linked to the political situation, but it will have a diplomatic dimension.”

Cardinal Parolin expressed hope that recent events, including the pope's participation in the G7 summit and his presence at the peace conference in Switzerland, “may leave something…that the sowing that has been done may bear fruit.”

Speech in the Senate

In his speech to the Senate, Cardinal Parolin launched an appeal to all Christians: “In this period marked by war, it is urgent that they take the cause of peace to heart.”

“The skies of many nations are darkened by the clouds of wars that prevent people from living in harmony,” the cardinal stressed, adding that “we are witnessing the proliferation of new trenches in our world and the tendency towards stiffening ideological positions”; it is therefore necessary to commit to “sensitising those who administer justice and politics to act coherently, inspired by the Gospel and ethical principles”.

He expressed his conviction that it is necessary to start educating young people “in a culture of inclusion, avoiding the temptation of the logic of exclusion and prejudices and stereotypes that fuel hostility.”

“Our destiny,” he said, “is not death but life, not hatred but fraternity, not conflict but harmony (…) Peace is the star that enlightens and guides the fate of the entire earth may the weapons that offend God and violate human dignity fall from our hands.