As the U.S. government contemplates how to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention center, the Holy See has expressed its commitment to help find humanitarian solutions for its current inmates.
Vatican Radio reported that this was one of the points that Vatican press office director Father Federico Lombardi said was discussed by the Pope’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry during a meeting today at the Vatican.
The U.S.’s commitment to avoid escalating tensions and violence in the Middle East as well as the commitment to promote negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians were also discussed, Fr. Lombardi confirmed.
He noted that the United States expressed its desire for the Holy See’s assistance in seeking appropriate humanitarian solutions for current inmates at Guantanamo Bay.
The spokesman explained that the short time available for Monday’s discussions prevented both sides from examining other issues in depth. However, they were said to have discussed the Ebola epidemic, as well as the situation in Ukraine and its prospects.
Also present in the meeting were U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Kenneth Hackett, and two members of the State Department staff. The Holy See was represented by three Curia officials.