Putin and Netanyahu, absent at the funeral of Pope Francis and Beijing silent
propagandaThey had unique Russia, Israel, and China Often complicated with the Vatican and The late Pope Francis. When the funeral of the ink becomes a silent scenario of diplomatic symbolism, the presence or absence of certain countries says.
Russia and Israel They will be representedS in Funeral of Pope FrancisAnd if not for their senior leaders, because President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend. instead of, Russia will send your Minister of CultureOlga Lubimova, Israel Yaron Zaidman, will represent the Ambassador of the Holy See.
Putin was arrested for a court order?
The absence of Putin is related to International Criminal Court Order (ICC) Against him, although he praised Pope Francis, “Humanitarian defender” In honor after his death.
Although theoretically he was risking his suspension if he was prolonged in Italy, the possibility was not clear: According to the Italian newspaper “Corriere Della Sera”, the Italian Ministry of Justice The consumer price index has not been transferred to the Court of Appeal yet Rome, a necessary step to verify any detention.
Apparently, The ministry did not address five other orders Against Russian high charges, including Maria Alexevana Lavova Bilova, the Russian Commissioner for Childhood Rights, facing positions similar to those in Putin.
Relations between Israel and the Vatican, at the lowest point under Francisco
Netanyahu’s absence occurs in the middle Tense relations between Israel and the VaticanEspecially for the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. While many world leaders were shown quickly My condolences to the death of the PopeThe first official message of condolences came a few hours after the announcement of the death of the Pope, from the hands of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
but, The Netanyahu government waited for three days to issue a statementWhich was widely interpreted as a diplomatic signal. Pope Francis has repeatedly condemned the war in Gaza, and his general criticism has exacerbated tensions with the Israeli government.
China “has no information to participate”
China has not yet confirmed its helpThe possibilities of participation appear to be rare. When Reuters asked him if Beijing would send a representative, Foreign Ministry spokesman, Jiakon, replied, “There is no information to share it today.”
Beijing issued a brief message on condolences About 24 hours after the Pope’s death, and only after pressing journalists to get an answer. However, during the funeral, prayer will be prayed in the Chinese language, a reference to Pope Francis’s efforts to build bridges with the Beijing government, despite decades of tense relations.
Many observers consider the search for Dialogue with China is one of its most important political tasks. The Holy See maintains official diplomatic relations with China since 1951 and is the only European country that officially recognizes Taiwan, a self -government democracy that Beijing claims to be its property.
It is likely that the new person and A precise balance of the Apostolic Chair for China Be behind Taiwan’s decision to reduce his delegation after talks with the Vatican. President Lay Cheng does not attendFormer Vice President Taiwan will be in place.
The long conflict that China has maintained for decades With the Vatican also affects the appointment of Catholic bishops. Cardinal Joseph Zain, Honor Bishop in Hong Kong and fixed defender of democracy, received a special statement from the Hong Kong Court to travel to Rome on the occasion of the funeral. His passport has been confiscated After his arrest in 2022 regarding protests.
