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While in Italy for the G8 Summit, PM Kevin Rudd visited Vatican City and had an Audience with Pope Benedict XVI. He Also took the time to meet Australian and NZ religious leaders in Rome.
"In a bold gesture which was well received, the Prime Minister presented the Holy Father with a formal copy of the Resolution of the Parliament on the Apology to the Indigenous People of Australia, along with six bottles of De Bortoli's Noble One, prize-winning dessert wine. The PM had comprehensive meetings with the Pope and the Secretary of State in the Vatican on Thursday 9 July as part of his four day visit to Italy for the G8 and related meetings."
"On 11 July the PM met with a group of Australian and NZ religious leaders based in Rome, including the Rev. David Richardson, Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome."
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Chairman introduction - Day nine Course for Asian Diplomats
By HE Tim Fischer, AC, Australian Ambassador to the Holy See
Turin, May 2009
Greetings and it is said of Rome that symbols matter, dare I say with Gregorian Vatican Diplomatic Conferences key anniversaries matter as both for their symbolism and a way of learning from the past and helping to build for a positive future. I salute all those who have made this vital Conference for Asian Diplomats possible, in Rome and Turin.
In welcoming two great practitioners of the diplomatic arts and studies, on my left this extraordinarily dedicated "Texan", Rev Prof David Maria Jaeger o.f.m. j.c.d. and on my right this equally dedicated "Geneva" Ambassador with many runs on the board, Most Rev Archbishop Silvano Maria Tomasi c.c., I do so pointing to some interesting anniversaries:
• This is the first anniversary, in a couple of months, of the 2008 signing of the Cluster Bombs Convention in Norway by many nations including Australia, a campaign successfully spearheaded by Holy See Ambassador to the UN, Geneva, Archbishop Tomasi, and others.
• Secondly, this year is the 20th anniversary (1989) of the Berlin Wall coming down, a breakthrough greatly helped by the work of Pope John Paul II, as acknowledged by many, including former USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
• Thirdly, it is the 25th anniversary (1984) of the Argentina Chile Treaty Agreement involving nine hundred international border alterations between those two giant countries. An agreement signed in the Treaty Room of the Apostolic Palace following the direct intervention of, again, Pope John Paul II.
• Fourthly, it happens to be the 80th anniversary of the Lateran Treaty (1929), when the Holy See Secretary of State, looking a little unhappy, signed with Mussolini the Lateran Treaty in the magnificent upstairs chamber at St John Lateran Basilica, actually called the Lateran Treaty Room. Effectively 44,000 square kilometres of Papal States were being legally reduced to just 44 hectares, the tiniest City State in the world, but with great influence.
• Fifthly, it is the 90th anniversary of the conference leading to the Treaty of Versailles, at the end of World War One. The Treaty created boundaries in the Middle East, most notably, that have led to chaos and havoc to this day, but equally failed to address Indochina at the time, leading to the Vietnam War.
• Sixthly, it is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin (1809) and the release of his famous book and theory on the Evolution of the Species fifty years later.
• Finally, it is also the 800th anniversary (1289) that St Francis of Assisi received official Papal approval to establish the Franciscan Order, the same said St Francis who walked across no-man’s land in Egypt to talk to the Islamic leaders, one a descendent of Saladin, during the Crusaders War of the 13th Century.
In diplomacy as has often been said, words are bullets and to this I add the right words can stop bullets before they are fired and ease the burden of suffering, as the first three anniversaries listed certainly did, in spades. Anniversaries from left field also can be relevant and can have ramifications, e.g. on the fourth day of the "Six Day war" in 1967, Israel attacked the USS Liberty, killing 34 US sailors, later apologising and paying reparations to the families.
However the USA to this day remains split on this incident, which is too often airbrushed. Dean Rusk said it was deliberate, Robert McNamara said it was an accident; sadly the Liberty attack and many other ad hoc attacks from all sides are still part of the complexities adding to the Middle East saga today.
In opening this session and welcoming two great practitioners of international diplomacy, I must say they have done much to help build international understanding.
I salute all those who have helped put this conference together with its unique blending of Greater Asia, the Holy See and its global activities in a truly superb double setting of the hub of Rome and the beauty of Turin.
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The Special Mass for the Victims of the Australian Bushfires
Tuesday 24 February 2009
It was in a church of great history - in fact Mozart played the organ in 1770 in this very church - that our colourful Mass to commemorate the Victims of the Australian fires took place.
The Caravita Church filled with members of the diplomatic corps, a large turn out of Australians based in Rome and working for various organizations such as FAO, Bioversity and WFP.
The Chief celebrant was visiting Most Rev. Julian Porteous, Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney and Ambassador Amanda Vanstone and Tim Fischer gave the 2 readings. The proceedings ended with a rousing rendition of Advance Australia Fair.
“It was a small but a much appreciated gesture from far away to the bushfire victims and communities destroyed by the bushfires, which, as I pointed out to the congregation, are still continuing as we attend this special mass” Ambassador Tim Fischer said.
Many people expressed their thanks to be able to make their gesture by coming to the mass and as Nadia, an Australian living in Rome, movingly said “we were as close as ever to our fellow Aussies through prayer and for the first time since this nightmare started, I began to feel comforted and close to home”.
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Community of Caravita
Australian Ambassador to Italy – H.E. Amanda Vanstone
Australian Ambassador to the Holy See – H.E. Tim Fischer
Special Mass for the Victims and Communities affected by the Australian Bushfires
Eve of Ash Wednesday
6.30pm Tuesday 24 February 2009
Oratory of Saint Francis Xavier "del Caravita"
Via del Caravita, 7
Principal Celebrant: Most Rev. Julian Porteous, DD B. Theol VG
Auxilary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney
You are cordially invited to attend this Special Mass in English to be celebrated with the Caravita community, as the bushfires continue in Australia and the official death toll has risen over 200.
For further information please contact:
Australian Embassy to the Holy See
Tel. 06 687 7688
Fax. 06689 6255
holysee.embassy@dfat.gov.au
or
Caravita: Fr Keith Pecklers SJ
Tel. 06 6701 5266
kfpecklers@gmail.com
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Pope Benedict XVI expresses his sadness at the bushfire disaster in Victoria.
Following are the words of his telegram, signed by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, to Governor General Ms Quentin Bryce:
"HER EXCELLENCY
MS QUENTIN BRYCE
GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA
DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES OF RECENT FIRES IN THE STATE OF VICTORIA, HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI ASSURES ALL AFFECTED OF HIS CLOSENESS IN PRAYER.. THE HOLY FATHER COMMENDS THE DECEASED TO THE LOVING MERCY OF ALMIGHTY GOD, AND UPON THEIR GRIEVING FAMILIES AND ALL THOSE SUFFERING FROM LOSS OF PROPERTY AND DESTRUCTION OF LAND HE INVOKES DIVINE STRENGTH AND CONSOLATION. HIS HOLINESS LIKEWISE PRAYS FOR ALL INVOLVED IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF THIS DISASTER, ENCOURAGING THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS TO BRING RELIEF AND SUPPORT.
CARDINAL TARCISIO BERTONE SECRETARY OF STATE."
