In addition to working toward unity among people within the U.S., Parolin also expressed his hope for Trump to “be an element of détente and pacification in the current conflicts that are bleeding the world.”
“Let’s hope, let’s hope. I believe that not even he has a magic wand,” Parolin said.
“To end wars, a lot of humility is needed, a lot of willingness is needed. It really is necessary to seek the general interests of humanity rather than concentrate on particular interests.”
While Pope Francis and Donald Trump have not seen eye to eye on issues including migrants or the environment, Vatican Undersecretary for the Dicastery for Culture and Education Father Antonio Spadaro, SJ, told Italian journalists Nov. 6 that the Vatican intends to “seek dialogue” with the U.S. leader.
“Catholics don’t have homogenous party affiliations or political convictions in the United States or anywhere else,” he said. “It’s held the compass of values steady, but without taking sides, precisely to avoid a spurious mixing of religion with politics.”
“The perspective of the Holy See is always broad, international, recognizing that the United States has an important role in avoiding [so] that the conflicts currently under way in the world, from martyred Ukraine to martyred Palestine, don’t get worse,” Spadaro said. “It’s necessary to find solutions.”
Following Trump’s election, speculation around his foreign policy measures have been in the media spotlight again, with particular attention being given to his pledge to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
In the run-up to the election, the American leader repeatedly stated that he would end the conflict in “24 hours.”
Kristina Millare is a freelance journalist with a professional communications background in the humanitarian aid and development sector, news journalism, entertainment marketing, politics and government, business and entrepreneurship.