Vatican: No Peace Possible Without Multilateralism

In order to reflect on the success and long-term results of the Holy See’s mediation in international conflicts, a conference entitled “Papal Mediation as a Mechanism for Promoting Peace” was held at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy.

At the center of the conference was a speech by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin (pictured), during which the Vatican’s head of diplomacy recalled “the importance of the Holy See’s mediation in resolving conflicts through the means of diplomacy.” Mediation occurred silently in different countries and at different times. The cardinal suggested “three important aspects of conflict resolution: promoting dialog, applying multilateralism, and finding tools that will help achieve peace.”

For Cardinal Parolin, papal mediation in the past, including the mediation forty years ago between Chile and Argentina, which were one step away from war, “is an example of conflict resolution, especially in our world, where they are multiplying and in which we must look for formulas to find solutions.”

In this context, the Secretary of State focused on the theme of the “crisis” of multilateralism. There are many global problems in the world today that require a global solution, but it is impossible to find a solution without the cooperation by everyone, he said. “Today multilateralism is in crisis, as Pope Francis said, people, states consider themselves adversaries to the point of becoming enemies,” Cardinal Parolin said.

“Instead, we need to overcome this attitude and rediscover mutual trust and work together for common interests,” the Vatican’s diplomatic chief emphasized. Today there are many global problems that need to be solved globally, and if there is no trust and cooperation, if there is no multilateralism, i.e. everyone’s participation, no solution can be found.”