Vatican foreign minister appeals for multilateral action to stop Islamic State

November 26, 2014

Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, who is completing his tenure as the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, addressed Australia’s bishops on November 25 on the Holy See’s diplomatic activity.

Speaking about diplomatic activity on behalf of persecuted Christians, the prelate said that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has descended to “levels of barbarism of scarcely imaginable atrociousness. These terrorists have driven Christian and other minorities from their homes, despoiled them of their possessions, sold women into slavery, recruited minors as child soldiers, ruthlessly eliminated those who oppose them, resorting even to crucifixion and decapitation, and committed mass murder.”

While the “Holy See has always emphasized the primacy of peace and the necessity of finding peaceful solutions through dialogue,” and while “every effort should be made to avoid war,” “provided that certain conditions are met, the Holy See does not exclude the use of force to restrain the unjust aggressor and protect persecuted communities,” he continued.

“It is therefore licit to restrain the unjust aggressor, provided this is done in a proportionate way and in accordance with international law, not in a unilateral fashion,” he added. “For this reason, the United Nations and the entire international community, in particular the various states of the Middle East region, must be involved.”

 

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Further information:

• AB Mamberti Address at ACBC Plenary (ACBC)