Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin: “Global Problems Need Dialogue”
Scholz and Putin's phone conversation: “The goal of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is stable and lasting peace”
Of course, the great global problems of today “can only be solved if we are united, if we have a common approach, otherwise there is a risk of aggravating them instead of finding solutions.” These are the words of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, who participated in a forum at the Pontifical Gregorian University entitled “Legacy of Friendship, Dialogue, and Peace,” dedicated to the tremendous figure of Matteo Ricci, the Jesuit who brought the Gospel to the heart of China.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the conference, Parolin addressed the tensions that have shaken Europe in recent years, between political instability and internal divisions, and reaffirmed the principle of unity that Pope Francis preaches in the form of “human brotherhood” at the beginning of his pontificate.
“Of course,” emphasized the Vatican’s diplomatic chief, “for us the principle of dialogue remains a fundamental principle. To promote peace and dialog, to prevent and overcome conflicts, the only way is to talk to each other directly. So for us, it’s not just a matter of tactics, but of substance.”
Parolin’s statements followed a phone call, the first since 2022, between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which Scholz “urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate with Ukraine.” Putin stressed that Russia is always open to dialogue and reiterated Russia’s firm position on the start of an armed conflict between Moscow and Kiev on February 24, 2022. The Russian leader said that “the conflict was provoked by the aggressive policy of NATO, which has tried and continues to try to turn Ukraine into a testing ground for anti-Russian weapons.”
In this context, Cardinal Parolin reiterated the desire to “build bridges” to find solutions to the ongoing conflicts: “Here, too,” he said, “we need to be very humble and very patient. Knowing that there are no magic solutions, you will have to show goodwill and willingness to reach out to others. If these are the fundamental attitudes, it is indeed possible to build bridges rather than walls.”
