On Thursday, the Czech Republic signed a treaty on its relations with the Vatican, becoming one of the last European Union countries to do so. The lower chamber of Parliament rejected the treaty in 2003, saying the Catholic Church would receive preferential treatment over other churches and that it would be disadvantageous for the country, Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Cardinal Pietro Parolin’
‘Peace is only possible if it is wanted,’ Cardinal Parolin tells UN assembly
Thursday, October 3rd, 2024Amid ongoing and potentially escalating conflict in both the Middle East and Ukraine, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin cautioned gathered delegates at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York Sept 28 that, “peace is only possible if it is wanted.” While it was earlier rumoured that Pope Francis might Read more
Cardinal urges Church to emphasise nonviolence over ‘just war’
Thursday, September 26th, 2024
US Cardinal Robert McElroy has urged the Catholic Church to promote peace and active nonviolence rather than refining just war theory. “In the life of the church, just war theories are a secondary element in Catholic teaching; the first is that we should not engage in warfare at all” he said in an interview with Read more
Why the Vatican keeps an open line to Iran
Thursday, August 15th, 2024
The Vatican’s top diplomat cautioned against actions that would escalate conflict in the Middle East in a Monday morning phone call with Iran’s new president. Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s Aug. 12 conversation with President Masoud Pezeshkian was well-timed. Iran is widely believed to be preparing to attack Israel following the July 31 assassination of Hamas political Read more
Vatican urges peace as Middle East tensions escalate
Thursday, August 15th, 2024
The Vatican has called for restraint in the Middle East as tensions escalate following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin directly urged Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian not to retaliate. Parolin stressed the need to avoid further conflict. This message was conveyed during a phone call Read more
‘Just war’ theory doesn’t apply in modern conflict
Monday, July 8th, 2024
The Vatican has strongly criticised the application of the “just war” theory to justify modern conflicts, particularly in Gaza. The Justice and Peace Commission of the Holy Land recently issued a document condemning the misuse of this concept which is deeply rooted in Catholic doctrine. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin echoed these concerns, Read more
Francis’ leadership a “Cancer” – prominent archbishop charged with schism
Monday, June 24th, 2024
The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has formally charged Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganó with schism. This could lead to his excommunication and removal from the clerical state. On 20th May, senior officers of the Vatican’s Dicastery opened an extrajudicial penal trial against Viganó. The decree states that this process was deemed appropriate Read more
Pope Francis would travel to China immediately
Monday, June 24th, 2024According to Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis would travel to China immediately – if the Chinese were open to it. This was reported by the Vatican News portal (Friday). However, Parolin does not have the impression that the conditions for realising this wish have been met so far. Pope Francis repeatedly emphasises Read more
Vatican and China seek improved relations
Monday, May 27th, 2024
The Vatican and China are signalling a potential thaw in their historically strained relationship, with both sides expressing a willingness to work together. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, has proposed the establishment of a permanent Vatican office in Beijing. This is a significant gesture towards deeper diplomatic ties. Parolin reaffirmed that the Read more
Cardinal Parolin: No peace without dialogue
Monday, May 13th, 2024“While I reaffirm the inalienable right to self-defence, war is always a failure of humanity as a whole and not just of the individual parties involved.” All wars are in contradiction with human dignity and “are not destined by their nature to solve problems, but rather to exacerbate them.” The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Read more