Courtney McGrailPope Francis has confirmed that the United States government intends to close its controversial detention centre at Guantanamo Bay.
Speaking at his annual address to the diplomatic corps, he said: “I note with satisfaction the intention of the United States to close the Guantanamo detention facilities, while acknowledging the generous willingness of several countries to receive the detainees.”
Barack Obama first announced his intention to close Guantanamo Bay in August 2007, just months after declaring his plan to run as president. Since being elected, he has consistently reiterated this aim. However, progress has been slowed by congressional opposition and the challenge of reallocating prisoners, including ones still suspected of posing a terrorist threat and Yemenis who cannot go home due to chaos in their home country. Currently, 127 detainees are held at the centre, which at its peak in 2003 held 680 prisoners.
In October Pope Francis spoke out against what he called a “penal populism” that could drive countries towards an acceptance of torture and imprisonment without trials, both of which were widely associated with the Guantanamo centre.
Speaking to delegates of the International Association of Penal Law he said: “These abuses can only be stopped with the firm commitment of the international community to recognise the primacy of the pro homine principle, meaning the dignity of the human person above everything else.”
Two months later, during talks between Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and John Kerry, US Secretary of State, the Holy See made clear its willingness to help President Obama close the facility. Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said Rome was keen to “help find adequate humanitarian solutions through our international contacts” in order to help place detainees.
Speaking after the Pope’s address, Kenneth Hackett, US ambassador to the Holy See said: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could make greater progress on closing Guantanamo before the Pope arrives in the State in September. That would be terrific. And I know that the White House would like to do that.”