Rome not recognizing Kosovo in deference to Serbian Church

H/T: Orthodox Report

Vatican City (FOCUS) - The Vatican has not recognized Kosovo as an independent state due to the Serbian Orthodox Church, said cardinal Walter Kasper, member of the Pontifical Council, cited by Montenegrin pcnen.com news website.

“We, of course, know that Kosovo is a serious wound and pain to the Serbian Orthodox Church. We also know that this is the cradle and center of the Serbian orthodoxy in Kosovo. We understand this and want to take it into account,” said Kasper.

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(Balkan Insight) - Cardinal Walter Kasper, who is a member of the Pontifical Council, said that the Vatican had not recognised Kosovo's independence out of consideration for the Serbian Orthodox Church, SPC.

In an interview with the Catholic news agency Kathpress, Kapser said that "We, of course, know that Kosovo is a heavy wound and pain for the SPC. We also know that it is the cradle and centre of Serbian Orthodoxy in Kosovo. We understand that and wish to have consideration for it."

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008. Belgrade, which firmly opposes the move, then took the case to the International Court of Justice. The Court's public hearings were held last year from December 1 to 11, while the judges are expected to deliver their opinion this year.

Kosovo has been recognized by 22 out of 27 EU member states.

According to Kapser, the Vatican supports the protection of Orthodox monuments, churches and monasteries in Kosovo and that it is very upset due to "certain cultural brutality."

"In Kosovo, significant historical, cultural and religious monuments have been destroyed. This must not be so. One cannot erase history in this way," he added.