Archbishop Gallagher: Negotiations needed to stop wars

By Vatican News

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican secretary for relations with states and international organizations, gave an interview Tuesday evening to Italian public television, RAI's TG1 news program.

Topics discussed included the “terrible” attack in Moscow, general instability in Europe and the world, and the insistence on “working for peace and trying to promote peace” in Ukraine through negotiation and with a defense that is not limited to weapons. but with agreements.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the risk of nuclear escalation.

The archbishop notably spoke of the Holy Land with the hope of a “two peoples, two states solution” and underlined his sadness at the “catastrophic” situation in Gaza.

He also mentioned Princess Kate Middleton of Great Britain and mentioned the health of Pope Francis, who, according to him, appears “strong” and “very determined”, but who probably these days is “trying to balance his efforts” as the Holy Week celebrations approach. But, he stressed, the Pope “always manages to surprise us”.

Returning from a trip to Montenegro and previously to Jordan, the British-born archbishop commented on international news, expressing the point of view of the Holy See.

The attack on Moscow

The interview with Ignazio Ingrao began with the recent attack in Moscow, which he described as “terrible”. The terrorist attack, he said, “must make us think,” because “we see that there are elements in our societies that only want to destroy and cause suffering.”

He underlined the real risk that the massacre in Moscow could further aggravate the global situation. “A country that experiences such trauma can also react very strongly, as Israel did after October 7,” he said.

All this instability, Archbishop Gallagher said, is “the result of a dissolution of an order that we thought we had established after the two world wars, after the Cold War where states resolved their conflicts by negotiating with each other, by speaking, processing and dialoguing.”

Today, there no longer seems to be “attention to the rule of law”, but rather “a lack of confidence in our institutions”, starting with the UN, the OSCE and Europe itself. even, “pillars of our world for many”. decades”, which, however, “cannot or do not seem capable of facing these serious challenges”.

War in Ukraine

Attention then shifted to Ukraine and Pope Francis' recent call for negotiation.

“The Pope,” said the archbishop, “has always said that wars end at the negotiating table. I believe that the Pope wanted to encourage the Ukrainian side to dialogue for the good of the country.”

“At the same time,” he continued, “I believe that the Holy See has always been very clear with the Russian side, asking it to also send signals in this direction, starting with stopping the launches of missiles on Ukrainian territory. armaments, and all daily conflicts must stop. »

Defense is not just about weapons

Recalling the Pope's thoughts, Archbishop Gallagher responded to a question on the relaunch of the European defense project and affirmed that “Europe must take responsibility for its defense”, but at the same time, “defense is not only a question of weapons”, but it is rather an “integral defense”, which “is carried out through institutions, promoting agreements between peoples”.

In this regard, the Secretary for Relations with States reiterated that “we must do everything to avoid a defeat for Ukraine”, because this “would radically change things”. What the Church, the Holy See and the Pope insist on, he said, is “to work for peace and to try to promote peace. We cannot think of a solution with a victory or with a defeat.

The archbishop also spoke of the risk of nuclear escalation.

“It makes us understand that we must build a world without nuclear weapons and that in reality, the possession of these weapons makes us more vulnerable and does not guarantee us security,” he said.

The two-state solution for Israel and Palestine

Much of the interview is devoted to the war in the Middle East, starting with the “disastrous”, “catastrophic” and “terrible” situation in Gaza.

As the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has already done on other occasions, Archbishop Gallagher also reiterated the solution of “two peoples, two states” for the future of Israel and Palestine. .

This solution, he said, requires “efforts” and “sacrifices”, which seemed to have been put aside but are not being put back on the table within the international community.

This “gives us some hope,” Archbishop Gallagher said.

“The Holy See always insisted on this solution, but for many it was no longer considered possible. We now see the great difficulties in the West Bank, the problem of the future of Gaza itself, but at least the people now see that a political solution must be sought.”

Regarding the West Bank, he noted that the “huge problem” of Israeli settlers remains, perhaps “the biggest problem to solve” in the future to end the conflict.

There are no “magic solutions”, he explained, given the “large number of people” dispersed across the territory and “intensified” relationships. Even then, the archbishop said, the solution is to “talk and dialogue also with the Israeli authorities” and seek solutions “for the benefit of all.”

Gaza Ceasefire Resolution

The Archbishop recalled that the words of Pope Francis return and his insistence on the release of hostages, access to humanitarian aid and the ceasefire. This last solution, according to Archbishop Gallagher, currently seems impossible, but in any case, he insisted, we must work “so that the guns are silent, not in a few months, but now, in these days -this”.

Bishop Gallagher recognized that a new page had opened with the ceasefire resolution approved by the UN Security Council in the absence of the United States.

According to the Archbishop, this is “a very strong message and an indication that the American administration must not always maintain the same positions, using its veto power to block any UN action.” .

The resolution, he noted, shows that “the position of the overwhelming majority of countries in the United Nations is to end this war, establish peace and save what can be saved.”

As for the tragedy of the Israeli hostages in the hands of Hamas, Bishop Gallagher confirmed the various contacts of relatives who “have asked us for help, and we are trying to do everything possible.”

Renewing Palestinian leadership

Speaking about Hamas, the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States said the terrorist organization “has no future as a political entity.”

“They too,” he observed in the interview, “must renounce the destruction of the State of Israel. They too should have the well-being of the Palestinian people much more at heart.”

According to Bishop Gallagher, it is necessary to “renew Palestinian institutions” and “listen much more to the will of the people for the future” and their desire to express their “self-determination” during the vote.

Finally, the Archbishop reaffirmed the absolute support of the Holy See for the Christians of Gaza, who are now “very few” and have become refugees in the Catholic parish with the Orthodox and Muslims in a “dramatic” situation in terms of resources and daily survival.

Support for Princess Kate Middleton of Wales

Archbishop Gallagher also spoke of his visit to Montenegro from March 21 to 24, calling the region “in a delicate situation” and deserving “the attention of the international community.”

In general, all these countries with a difficult past, he reflected, are genuinely trying to move forward, to promote themselves. Many have chosen Europe and deserve all our encouragement.”

Bishop Gallagher concluded by expressing his affection and prayers for the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, who announced in recent days that she was suffering from cancer.

“When we see a human being in all their fragility, it can only evoke our affection and support.”