[1] The Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, stated that the Holy See had not recognised the independence of Kosovo and did not intend to do so in the future.
The Holy See urged politicians in the region to show "a decisive and concrete commitment to ward off extremist reactions and violence", Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi announced.
[4][5] In April 2008, Monsignor Miguel Maury, referring to this statement of Father Lombardi, told U.S. diplomats that, in order not to undermine its relations with the government of Serbia and its ecumenical dialogue with the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Holy See was not ready to formally recognise Kosovo, but would "continue to promote dialogue in a way that implicitly acknowledges and respects Kosovo's de facto independence".
[6] In June 2008, Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, stated that the Vatican had not recognised the independence of Kosovo and did not intend to do so in the near future.
In a press release, the Vatican stressed that this appointment (of non-diplomatic character) was "completely distinct from considerations regarding juridical and territorial situations or any other question inherent to the diplomatic activity of the Holy See".