IMAGE: CNS photo/Shawn Thew, EPA
By Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Congratulating Donald Trump for his
victory in the U.S. presidential election, the Vatican secretary of state
expressed hope that people would work together “to change the global
situation, which is a situation of serious laceration, serious conflict.”
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis’ top aide, spoke about
the election early Nov. 9 during a meeting at Rome’s Pontifical Lateran
University. The Vatican then released a transcript of his remarks.
“First of all,” he said, “we respectfully
must take note of the will expressed by the American people in this exercise of
democracy that, they tell me, was characterized by a large turnout at the
polls.”
“We send our best wishes to the new president that his
administration may truly be fruitful,” the cardinal said. “And we
also assure him of our prayers that the Lord would enlighten and sustain him in
his service to his country naturally, but also in serving the well-being and
peace of the world.”
Cardinal Parolin was asked about the polemics that arose
earlier in the year between Trump and Pope Francis over the question of
immigration, especially concerning the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Let’s see how the president acts,” Cardinal Parolin said.
“Normally, they say, it is one thing to be a candidate and another to be
president, to have that responsibility.”
“It seems premature to make judgments” until Trump
is inaugurated and begins making decisions, Cardinal Parolin said.
During an in-flight news conference Feb. 17 after a trip to
Mexico, the pope was asked about his reaction to Trump’s proposal that the
United States extend a fence along the full length of the border and his
comments to Fox Business Network that Pope Francis is a politician and is being
used by Mexicans.
“As far as being ‘a pawn,'” the pope said,
“that’s up to you, to the people, to decide.”
But one thing Pope Francis said he did know was that “a
person who thinks only of building walls, wherever they may be, and not
building bridges, isn’t Christian.”
Asked if a Catholic could vote for such a candidate in good
conscience, the pope told reporters: “I’m not going to get mixed up in
that. I’ll just say, this man is not Christian if he says this” about building
walls.
– – –
Copyright © 2016 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.
