また、ダモッソ記者の著書について、「興味深い方法で、平和への深い願いを前面に出しています… 多くの人々とのインタビューから浮かび上がるのは、平和に関する総合的な分析です」と評価し、ジャーナリストの徹底的な調査が「教会は紛争を止める本当の力を持っていないが、憎しみと敵意の壁を打ち破るために行動するよう、すべての人間の良心に呼びかけることができ、友愛こそ正義、連帯、包摂、地球への配慮への真の道であることを示すことができる」と指摘した。
授賞式に先立って、国務長官は数人のジャーナリストと話をし、ウクライナと中東の紛争について問われると、「これらの戦争は決して正義の戦争ではありません」とし、エルサレムの正義と平和委員会の声明に言及したうえで、「自衛の戦いとしての正義の戦争という概念について、今日多くの議論があります。しかし、現在使用可能な武器（の多様化、高度化）によって、この概念は非常に困難になっており、概念について決定的な立場（を示すこと）はないと思いますが、（カトリック教会としての）の概念の見直しを検討中です」と語った。
（以下、英語原文のまま）
Lebanon urgently needs a new president
The Secretaqry of State also commented on his recent visit to Lebanon. Asked about the possible solutions he envisages for the Lebanese crisis, he remarked that the priority at the moment is the election of the new President of the Republic: “The most important thing is having a president, closing this institutional crisis which is damaging the whole country”, he said.
He also expressed his hope that Chrsitians may play an active role within the Lebanese system. “(The election) certainly won’t be the magic solution, but we will begin to address the problems when all the institutional rolesare filled,” he stated.
Cardinal Parolin confirmed that Maronite Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai is an active actor in this context, “He has always tried to unite Christians and it seems that there is a willingness on the part of the Christian parties to unite, to propose one or more commonly accepted candidates”.
Asked if there is dialogue with the Shiite community, Cardinal Parolin implied that dialogue is not lacking, but the problem is above all on the side of Hezbollah: “They are stake-holders in the game and have their candidate. The question is finding a candidate that it is accepted by all parties”, he said.
Release of prisoners could help peace process in Ukraine
Cardinal Parolin also spoke about Ukraine, and was asked about the proposal presented by the Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán to Ukrainian President Zelenskiy, in his capacity as rotating president of the European Union, for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate a peace negotiation. “As far as I know, until now the Ukrainians have always refused”, said the Vatican Secretary of State. He recalled hat for the Ukrainian government if there are no guarantees “this could only be a pause to then start again in an even cruder, harsher way.”
However, Cardinal Parolin, reiterated the Holy See’s hope that there “can be a truce, and then a negotiation”.
Regarding the exchange of prisoners for which the Holy See has successfully mediated, Cardinal said that he foresees other releases “because – he explained – it is a mechanism that works which is distinct from that of children, where there are various realities involved. In the case of prisoners it is essentially an exchange of lists that are delivered to the two parties, so I imagine that this activity will continue a little which I believe is very positive and which can create conditions that could also favour peace and possible negotiations”, he said.
We need values to preserve democracy
Finally, in his conversation with the reporters, Cardinal touched on the 50th Italian Social Weeks in Trieste, which kicked off on Tuesday and will see the participation of Pope Francis on July 7.
In this regard the Secretary of State remarked that the theme chosen for this edition focused on democracy is particularly relevant at this time “because – he noted – democracy is facing a crisis in many parts of the world and I believe that it is also very important for Catholics to reiterate the importance and need to be in favour of democracy and above all to fill it with values.”
“Democracy – he noted – is not a simple mathematical exercise, who has more and who has less, but is above all an exercise of values, it is about drawing inspiration the values that make social coexistence possible. Therefore, I believe that the contribution that Catholics can make is very valid, I hope that something good comes from these social weeks,” Cardinal Parolin concluded.
