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The first Hispanic U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, Miguel Diaz, talks about his hopes for the next pope.
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From Fox News look to those studios in New York City I'm Brian -- us and today.
We are joined by the former US ambassador to the Vatican.
Miguel Diaz mr.
Diaz is the first Hispanic in US history to hold that position he left office in November after serving for nearly three and a half years.
Mr.
ambassador thank you so much for being here today.
Thanks so much -- for having me.
You really had the opportunity of this meeting and and interacting with Pope Benedict the sixteenth more than anybody else really -- in America -- he taught me about your relations with him.
And how he really was.
Well first and foremost.
When I was first nominated the the media spoke about the ambassador theologian and meeting the Pope theologian and so right away there was a certain affinity.
In terms of the diplomatic roles and non roles -- the level of administration that week we were each charged.
To do.
And so there was that affinity the second thing is of course the intellectual peace.
The Pope -- and love the Pope wrote and hope the -- order and social justice.
Three areas that are very much I tuned.
To the needs of our times and very much in my heart.
And then the third thing was his personal way.
Health.
Re dating to my family and I always appreciated the way that when we asked them to pray about the kids he would always smile.
And and and would you know with that in an affirmative way convey to us that he would do so.
Power relations with the west during his.
During during his tenure there in the Vatican.
How would you say the relations were between the west and the Catholic Church.
You know how difficult this has been I mean this is really -- a difficult period for the Pope.
No -- the that the number of challenges.
Not only within the church but I clearly at the international level have been you know quite.
Quite -- quite significant and so you know we've we've dealt with human tragedies in terms of like the earthquake in Haiti and the tsunami in Japan.
He knew we had to deal with issues like ongoing human trafficking.
We have to deal with human rights issues.
All over the world to -- clearly the the growing number of Bob migrants.
One out of 33 persons on the face of this earth is a migrant.
And of course.
The -- spraying and the concerns that are associated to.
With the exile of Christian minorities from different parts of the world's particularly in the Middle East.
Well this mr.
ambassador I'm also I'm really referring to obviously.
A lot of the a lot of the scandal that's been happening in the Catholic Church regarding the sex abuse and in all of that you know the west there's a lot of bomb.
The number of Catholics in the United States has actually gone down last couple of years I'm Latin America you're seeing the growing movement with the Protestant church.
On how do you what what kind of improvements do you want to see when the next Pope.
Comes in and the next couple of weeks I'll regarding the relations with -- Vatican church in the west.
At one of the.
Things that I've been.
Seeing it in the last -- few days is.
Is that I I I truly believe for those of us that care deeply about this but about this institution and about the role of religion and society.
I I -- you know that the -- place that's significant role in terms of.
Of of this that mention of human life and I I've I think I've -- that we need -- Pope who is a pastor who can.
He'll help heal of the tremendous suffering.
All around -- that includes a sexual abuse.
You know it's reaching out to sexual abuse victims that includes those victims of poverty that includes victims of violence.
We also be -- diplomat who can.
You know embrace the great diversity of opinions and peoples that include cultural racial.
Religious diversity and finally and finally have you know what I -- suggested that we need an administrator.
Who can you know tap into the richness both financially speaking and and humanly speaking.
That is all around us not only within the church but -- -- you know society in at present in men and women of goodwill.
All it sounds like you're talking about -- Leonardo sundry out of Argentina who is a favorite.
One of the favorite Latin American.
Cardinals to maybe be to become -- this time around what is your shot are you talking about they're not -- -- do you think he has shot.
And you think a lot -- Pope is something that the world means right now.
But -- one of the things that I they have also said is it's clearly -- that the region of the world that we come from.
Matters in the sense that it does -- our perspective.
But I think that the prayer in the -- that the cardinals are about to undertake and that.
All of the people of god and goodwill should company.
During this time.
Is a prayer for you know for who is the person who has you know more still that characteristic that are necessary.
To meet -- challenges of the time.
And clearly no one person is gonna have all the characteristics that are needed.
But we also need someone who can delegate who can tap into the though again the wealth of resources.
And so I think that.
There are many candidates who could possibly.
Up play that role in what we need really is someone this morning -- one of the earlier.
Programs that I was -- that we need you know -- joyful hope.
Someone who can -- to the human family.
A message of hope a message of peace a message of reconciliation.
And and clearly bring us together at a time when you know we are sold -- it.
Both politically religiously culturally and in other ways do you think -- Hispanic vote is likely this time did he do you for see that.
Will surely you know up pulled from from the south.
And in a growing where were where there's a growing presence of traffic is it certainly a possibility.
And someone from the south would bring in a tremendous sensitivity to issues of poverty.
You know Latin America has dealt for ages in -- we -- with issues dealing with.
You know cross cultural cross from religious cross racial relationships in good ways and sometimes and that's a good ways.
But someone you know clearly without awareness would would bring something to the table.
In terms of becoming the universal -- but what is once again I I think what's important is for us to realize.
That this person will assume a leadership that is global and -- need to speak not only to the particular area that he comes from but to the entire human.
From what -- my last question to you here is what what do you want what do you expect from the spoke.
In terms of dealing with Catholics here in the United States.
Catholicism in the United States are you hoping that perhaps -- what are your expectations.
Is it is a better way of putting your expectations for the next -- when dealing with catholicism here in the US.
I I -- you know I would invite the holy father to two of course come to the United States.
And to once again like other popes have done.
You know experience this great American principle at notables went on I don't know anyone and certainly that -- for this city that universality.
The many faces that comprise the Catholic Church in the United States is something that I want the holy father to experience.
And an experience that richness that makes as you know this incredible.
A nation and this incredible presence here in the west.
Okay -- -- -- -- -- thank you so much for joining us today and no will be all looking at.
-- else -- we looking at the conclave and all eyes will be on Rome for the next few weeks.
Thanks so much I'll be watching for the -- smoked -- -- rice then and now and see who emerges from you know from the Vatican windows.
-- thank you so much -- Make sure to continue to follow our -- coverage on Fox News -- TO dot com I'll be reporting from the Vatican and be sure to join the conversation on Twitter and FaceBook.
About your hopes for the future of the Catholic church and -- -- Pope at hash tag hope.
For -- C unit will -- take care.
