Kissinger Addresses Vatican Conference

Vatican, Apr. 30, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Henry Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State, was at the Vatican this past weekend to participate in a conference organized by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

Kissinger-- who spoke at the invitation of Mary Ann Glendon, the Harvard Law professor and president of the Pontifical Academy-- told reporters that he had not come to Rome to address any "short-term" political issues, but was interested in helping Vatican officials in the long-term quest to promote "reason and dialogue and community." Noting that his diplomatic career had included private audiences with three different Pontiffs, Kissinger said that he had a great respect for the influence of the Holy See "as a contributor to the continuity of our values." The topic of his presentation, he said, was the challenge of maintaining the values of our civilization in the 21st century.

During his brief visit to the Vatican, Kissinger was lodged in the St. Martha residence, where cardinals stay during a papal conclave.

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