The right to religious freedom, the need to promote disarmament and sustainable development,
to support peace and democracy in North Africa and the Middle East and to promote
a culture of social responsibility as the basis of a healthy society. Those were some
of the wide ranging issues discussed by a British government delegation and top Vatican
officials on Wednesday during a visit marking the 30th anniversary of the
re-establishment of full diplomatic relations between the UK and the Holy See. A
joint communiqué following the working meeting said Britain and the Holy See look
forwards “to working together to combat intolerance and discrimination based on religion,
wherever it is manifest.” The delegation also met with Pope Benedict and spoke
of his successful 2010 visit to the UK which paved the way for this follow up meeting.
Leading the delegation was Britain’s only Muslim Cabinet Minister Baroness Warsi,
who told Philippa Hitchen more about the talks and about the audience with the Pope……
Listen:
“This is a
historic visit, a visit that we discussed at the very successful State papal visit
in September 2010….this delegation is unprecedented really in the history of the UK,
but also in the history of the Vatican, to have 4 cabinet minister and 3 ministers
of state with a big delegation to visit and have bilateral discussions, as well as
enjoy an audience with the Holy Father…”
“It’s the privilege of a 2nd
meeting I’ve had with the Pope – the first time he asked me to continue to make the
case for faith and I explained that my speech here and the work that we’ve been doing
with the government over the past 20 months was trying to make the case for faith
and he blessed us….I handed him a gift of a King James Bible from the Prime Minister
…he opened it and read the message from the Prime Minister…I also handed him a personal
gift of a translation of the Koran ...”
“I think the most important thing that’s
come out for me is that the Vatican, being the smallest state in the world, has one
of the biggest global reaches …there are many issues on which we agree…the world,
as we go forward, we know is not based on geographical relations but on networks and
the Holy See is one of the most networked states in the world….we spoke about international
aid, disarmament, climate change, the importance of interfaith relations and the importance
of making the case for faith…”
Read the full text of the joint communiqué:
On 14-15 February 2012 the Secretary for the Holy See’s Relations
with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, hosted talks between the Holy See and
a British Government Ministerial delegation led by the Rt Hon Baroness Warsi. The
visit of the delegation to Rome follows the successful visit of His Holiness Pope
Benedict XVI in September 2010, and marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment
of full diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the Holy See, which took
place the year of the visit of Pope John Paul II to Britain, the first by a reigning
Pontiff.
The delegation also met the Secretary of State
His Eminence Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and was received by His Holiness Pope Benedict
XVI.
The Holy See and Her Majesty’s Government agreed
on the urgent need for action to strengthen the universal commitment to religious
freedom as a fundamental human right, and to its practical application with a view
to promoting respect for all religions in all countries. The Holy See and the British
government look forward to working together to combat intolerance and discrimination
based on religion, wherever it is manifest.
The Holy
See and Her Majesty’s Government reaffirmed the need to promote integral and sustainable
global development, based on the centrality of the human person and grounded in the
principle of the inherent human dignity and worth of each person. Much progress has
been made over the last decade in improving health and well-being for many people.
However, there are still significant gaps and challenges in the long and complex path
towards ensuring integral human development for everybody. Too many people are still
hungry, too many people do not have access to education and to decent work, too many
women die in childbirth. In view of these challenges we recognise a shared obligation
to achieve a fair international financial and trade framework. And we will strive
for a better future for all humanity, taking into particular account care for the
poorest people in the world.
Looking ahead to the UN
Conference on Sustainable Development at Rio de Janeiro in June this year and to the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change implementation process, we share the conviction
that in order to take forward a human-centred and sustainable global development,
there is a need to continue to strengthen the integration of its interdependent and
mutually reinforcing pillars: the economic, the social and the environmental, as well
as the connection between combating poverty and tackling climate change.
The Holy See and Her Majesty’s Government share a commitment to work at
the United Nations and other fora to strengthen the international focus on conflict
prevention, disarmament, arms control and non proliferation, aimed at protecting human
life and building a world more respectful of human dignity. As part of this effort,
we look forward to positive outcomes in July to the final negotiations to agree upon
a robust Arms Trade Treaty with a wide scope, and to the 2nd Review Conference
of the UN Programme on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons.
With regard to the changes which have occurred in North Africa and the Middle
East, the Holy See and Her Majesty’s Government stressed the importance of undertaking
real reforms in the political, economic and social realms, in order better to ensure
the unity and development of each nation, in responding positively to the legitimate
aspirations of many people for peace and stability. In this context, reference was
made to the role which Christians can play and to the importance of interreligious
dialogue. The Holy See and Her Majesty’s Government expressed the hope for a resumption
of negotiations in good faith between Israelis and Palestinians so as to bring about
a lasting peace. They renewed their appeal for an immediate end to violence in Syria
and stressed the need for co-operation to overcome the present crisis and work towards
a harmonious and united coexistence.
As the London Conference
on Somalia approaches, the Holy See and the British Government encourage the international
community to support a coherent strategy on Somalia in order to end the crisis there,
placing as a priority the protection and welfare of the people of the Horn of Africa.
Her Majesty’s Government welcomed His Holiness Pope
Benedict’s support for the ongoing process of reconciliation in Northern Ireland,
the establishment of stable, inclusive political institutions, and efforts to build
a peaceful, stable and prosperous future for all parts of the community. Her Majesty’s
Government and the Holy See agreed that the use of violence for political ends is
deplorable, and must be set aside in favour of constructive dialogue for the well-being
of the whole community.
As the United Kingdom prepares
to host the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, and to celebrate Her Majesty the
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, both sides look forward to a year characterised by the spirit
of the Olympic Charter and the Olympic Truce: at the service of the harmonious development
of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation
of human dignity.
There was in addition a good exchange
of views on a wide range of social, economic, political and cultural issues, including
on developing the UK’s collaboration with the Vatican Museums. Both sides recognised
in particular the role of faith and education in the development of a culture of social
responsibility and the underpinning of a healthy society. In this context, appreciation
was expressed for the significant contribution which the Catholic Church, and Christians
in general, have made and continue to make to the good of British society. The Holy
See emphasised the need to ensure that institutions connected with the Catholic Church
can act in accordance with their own principles and convictions and stressed the necessity
of safeguarding the family based on marriage, religious freedom and freedom of conscience.
Both sides look forward to further strengthening their relationship by working together
through their respective networks and global partnerships, including the Commonwealth
of Nations, to promote the common good.