Cardinal Parolin: Christian presence in the Middle East is essential

By Andrea Tornielli

Cardinal Pietro Parolin visited Jordan this week. On Friday, he presided over the solemn liturgy of dedication of the new church of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, built on the site of Jesus’ baptism. As a sign of vitality and hope, more than six thousand faithful were present, filling the church to such an extent that many could not find a place inside.

After the celebration, Vatican News spoke with the Secretary of State about world news, including Pope Francis’ words to the diplomatic corps on January 9, 2025.

Here is the text of the interview

We are in Jordan, in the Holy Land, at the place of Jesus’ baptism, which was still a minefield a few decades ago. Not far from here, a war sparked by Hamas attacks continues, causing death and destruction inflicted mainly on civilians, particularly in Gaza. What message would you like to convey?

Cardinal Parolin: It was a very beautiful and well organized celebration, but above all full of hope. And it is not because hope has become a cliché during this jubilee year dedicated to it. The message that emerges from this day, I believe, is the following: in a region ravaged by so much conflict, torn by so much tension, this formerly mined area is now an expanse of cultivated land. This in itself is a sign of hope: as the prophet says, swords can indeed be transformed into plowshares, and weapons can become instruments of peace. The broad and lively participation of the population is also a reason for hope. There are vital forces and Christianity can help, with the grace of God, to find ways to resolve current conflicts.

Jordan is a nation where the Christian minority is integrated and feels part of the country. Unfortunately, this is not the case in other contexts. What is the role of Christians in the Middle East today?

Cardinal Parolin: Christians have been present in these countries since time immemorial and continue to be an integral and legitimate part of Middle Eastern states and societies, even as past and recent events encourage them to emigrate. As a result, Christian communities in these countries are decreasing numerically. I would like to reaffirm this constitutive dimension of the Christian presence: Arab also means Christian because there is a Christian community rooted in the history of these lands. I would like to underline this fundamental and constitutive dimension of the Christian presence. Christians, as a constituent part, can make their contribution in all areas. As the Pope has said repeatedly, the Middle East without Christians would be poorer, lacking an essential expression of the very identity of this region.

Are you concerned about the evolving situation in Syria?

Cardinal Parolin: I have read the positive statements that have been made, which correspond to the direction desired by the Pope in his speech to the diplomatic corps. We hope that a new era can begin for Syria, where all citizens enjoy equal rights and privileges. This is the concept of citizenship that the Holy See also proposes for all countries: all citizens are equal, with equal rights and duties before the law. We sincerely hope that these declarations will be followed by actions that also guarantee the protection of the rights of minorities and Christians.

Two days ago, after two years, the president of Lebanon was finally elected. How important is this?

Cardinal Parolin: I think it’s a positive sign. Over the past two years, we have always maintained that it is crucial for the continuity and survival of the country as it is structured, that is to say, to use the famous phrase of Saint John Paul II , “a country which is a message”… a country where social, political and religious diversity coexist. We have always emphasized that the priority is to secure the presidency, thus strengthening the institutions. So this is a sign of hope. We sincerely hope that these elections will mark a new phase for Lebanon, where all political forces will come together to find common ground and work for the good of the country, especially for the reforms that the country so urgently needs.

Could you discuss some of these reforms?
Cardinal Parolin: For example, providing justice to the victims and families affected by the Beirut port explosion and restoring economic stability, which was lost and caused widespread poverty and suffering in the country. It is positive that they managed to elect a president.

During his recent trips to Luxembourg and Belgium, discussing war situations, Pope Francis called for “honest negotiations” and “honorable compromises.” Why has it become so difficult today to negotiate and reach a compromise? Why does diplomacy seem silent? I am particularly referring to the ongoing conflict in the heart of Christian Europe between Russia and Ukraine.

Cardinal Parolin: It is truly distressing that we seem to have lost the ability to negotiate and that, as they say, might trumps the rule of law. In his speech to the diplomatic corps, Pope Francis mentioned several causes of this situation, explaining that there is a climate of distrust and mutual fear, which creates increasing polarization between States and communities and prevents the search for common solutions. . I particularly emphasize this point: there is a lack of fundamental trust. To negotiate and dialogue, there must be at least a minimal level of trust in the other party. Another aspect highlighted by the Pope is the ability to see things from the point of view of the other party, which in this case is the enemy. There needs to be a willingness to meet each other halfway, to understand or at least seriously consider the other side’s reasons. This is why the negotiations have become so difficult today. Added to this – also mentioned by the Pope – is the crisis of institutions established to promote dialogue, such as international organizations. Today, these institutions are struggling to continue fulfilling the role they successfully played immediately after World War II. There are many other causes, but I believe this is the root of it all.

In his speech to the diplomatic corps, the Pope denounced the risk of what he calls a “club mentality”, which leads to choosing dialogue only with those who already share our views. Pope Francis has often invoked “the spirit of Helsinki”, what can this mean today?

Cardinal Parolin: The spirit of Helsinki is precisely about overcoming this mentality. We lived in a divided world, a world of opposition, divided into two blocs. Perhaps today these “clubs” have fragmented and multiplied. In some sense, it might even have been easier when there were only two blocks. The Spirit of Helsinki represents the effort to move beyond the idea of ​​an enemy, finding common ground even with those who do not share the same views. Helsinki symbolizes the ability to transcend one’s point of view or not consider it the only exclusive one, accepting that other legitimate points of view exist and can be reconciled with one’s own, even if something has to be given up. This is the essence of healthy compromise. Another key aspect of negotiation should be the willingness to seek compromise to overcome the conflict.

In this context, what does the expression “just peace” mean?

Cardinal Parolin: In my opinion, a “just peace” means a peace based on international law and United Nations declarations. These are the tools available to the international community to regulate relations between countries and between communities of states. From a Christian perspective, we understand justice in its different facets, but fundamentally, I would say that “just peace” refers to a peace that aligns with international law and its rules.

John Paul II wrote that there can be no peace without justice, and no justice without forgiveness…

Cardinal Parolin: In Christian thought, justice is not simply giving everyone their due according to distributive justice, but it is a justice that Jesus himself evokes – a higher form of justice that becomes love and forgiveness towards others. In his speech to the diplomatic corps, Pope Francis spoke of the diplomacy of forgiveness. This passage was particularly beautiful because it highlights the ability to go beyond the simple demands of justice.

The provisional agreement on the appointment of new bishops in China continues to be the subject of controversy, raised both in international and ecclesial political circles. Some see it as a sign of weakness. What is its deep meaning?

Cardinal Parolin: It is logical that divergent opinions arise in the face of a situation as complex as that of China, which arises from a particularly difficult history. Opinions can be very varied and I have always said that I am not shocked by the differences of opinion, as some may believe: other solutions exist. The Holy See considered this agreement the most effective solution to begin a dialogue on one of the key issues on the table. One of the most important and difficult issues was the appointment of bishops. I believe that the agreement on the appointment of bishops aims to achieve two fundamental things: to move slowly – sometimes even taking a step backward – but to move in the right direction. The first is to ensure that all bishops are in communion with the Pope. This is fundamental to the Catholic Church. The second is the attempt – even if not always successful – to foster unity within the Church, overcoming divisions and ensuring a certain degree of normalization in its life. There is no “magic bullet” solution, but the agreement represents a journey – a slow and difficult journey that, in my opinion, is starting to bear fruit. These fruits may not be visible yet, but they will likely become more evident as trust and the ability to engage in dialogue between parties develops.

While meeting with the media on the flight back from Singapore, Pope Francis described the results of the dialogue with the Chinese government as “good”, saying that “even with regard to the appointment of bishops…” He there is therefore reason to hope. in this case too…

Cardinal Parolin: I believe it; there are reasons to hope. In his speech to the diplomatic corps, the Pope spoke of the diplomacy of patience. I think this is a case where, more than others, but perhaps in general, we need to develop the capacity for patience, as the Apostle James encourages us: consider the peasant who sows the seed and patiently waits for rain, snow. , and the seed bears fruit. I believe that even in this area, as in many others in life, we need this ability to look beyond immediate results. Unfortunately, we are also slaves to immediacy. I think many of the reactions you mentioned come from this flattening of perspective on the present, the lack of ability to take a long-term view of the future while also considering the past and the difficulties experienced in the past . So, without entertaining false illusions – because I think no one has any illusions in this regard – we can move forward with hope and commitment, confident that, with the grace of God, this path will produce the desired fruits.