Posted on 04/07/2005 12:37:33 PM PDT by F14 Pilot
ROME (Reuters) - The "Great Satan," part of the "axis of evil" and an "outpost of tyranny" will gather for the funeral of Pope John Paul, who toiled for peace but whose mourners find it hard to forgive each other.
At what is expected to be one of the biggest funerals ever, there will be heads of governments whose hostile exchanges have long dominated the headlines -- the United States and Iran, Israel and Syria, Zimbabwe and Britain among others.
"The conviction he had about humankind, about life and about peace -- it just shone through," said former U.S. president George Bush, father of the current president, aboard Air Force One as it was heading to Rome on Wednesday.
But the pacifist message often fell on deaf ears.
Tehran and Washington have been enemies since Iran's Islamic revolution in 1979, months after John Paul was elected Pope.
Iran's former leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, was the first to call the United States the "Great Satan," while President Bush has said Iran is part of an "axis of evil" and accuses Tehran of secretly building nuclear arms.
In another long-standing war of words, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has described Communist Cuba as an "outpost of tyranny."
Cuba is sending National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who will not attend the funeral, hailed the Pope as a friend of peace -- but his condolences for the late Pontiff also included a jab at U.S. sanctions on his country.
PIOUS POLITICS
Funeral guest and Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, too, combined piety with politics, describing his country as "the Vatican's most faithful partner."
The Holy See is Taiwan's only European ally, while Beijing sees the island as a renegade province. China cut relations with the Vatican more than 50 years ago and will send no envoy to the funeral.
Seating arrangements for the funeral have not been made public, but they will require the Vatican's finest diplomacy.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe may recall some of his own musings on religion when he listens to the funeral prayers for the late Pontiff.
"We are now being coerced to accept and believe that a new political-cum-religious doctrine has arisen, namely that 'There is but one political god, George W. Bush, and Tony Blair is his prophet'," Mugabe told the U.N. general assembly last September.
Blair has criticized Mugabe's treatment of political opponents and policy of seizing white-owned farms for allocation to blacks in the former British colony. Mugabe sees Blair, who will also be at the funeral, as a chief enemy, saying he cajoled the European Union into imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe.
The burial will also draw visitors whose animosity has been less vocal but equally embittered.
Turkey and Armenia, which have no diplomatic relations, will both send their heads of government. Turkey is trying to counter long-standing accusations that it slaughtered 1.5 million Armenians during and after World War One, which it denies.
The issue has come under fresh scrutiny as Turkey strives to enter the EU.
The only traditional foes to bring a gift of peace for the late Pontiff may be nuclear-armed India and Pakistan.
On Thursday, a day before the Pope's burial, the passengers on the first bus service in more than 50 years from Pakistani Kashmir to Indian Kashmir walked across a "peace bridge" between the two territories to resume their journey on the other side.
The region has been divided since a 1947-48 war, and the brief walk across the bridge was hailed as a possible beginning of a much longer process -- forgiveness.
What? These people don't see each other every day at the U.N.?
I was thinking what if Bush adminstration could issue some warrants to arrest some monsters in Pope's funeral.
It would be nice if some of these world leaders, including our own, would use this event as an opportunity to at least sit down with each other and have a conversation for a few minutes or more.
about what?!
Good time to clean house, like Michael Corleone.
"Castro is dead. Kim is dead. So is Khatami, al-Asad, and the heads of all the five families."
LMAO
Carter is still alive!
#8
"Carter was weak and stupid!"
As little Frankie Pantanglie was heard to say to his Don, "...we gotta hit em now, while we got the muscle."
He is still STUPID
I'd like to see Lil Kim get a bullet through the glasses ala Moe Green.
lol
What, both Bubba AND Hellery made it the Vatican???
Of course everyone- even former enemies- will come together in peace and love to note the passing of this man of peace, global cooperation, inter-religious unity, universal brotherhood and encourager of the aspirations of humanity. His words confirm his beliefs:
I have collected these quotes over the last 7 years or so. I find them fascinating.
"Globalization presents the demand for solidarity(unanimous support) particularly the construction of a more human world for all." John Paul ll May 14 2002, Global Forum in Rome.
"It is the duty of all believers, to whichever religion they belong, to proclaim that we can never be happy pitted one against the other, the future of humanity will never be able to be secured by terrorism and by the logic of war." John Paul ll Sunday remarks from studio window, Feb 23, 2003
"make every effort of avoid new divisions in the world" John Paul ll to Prime Minister Tony Blair at meeting at Vatican Feb 21, 2003
"War must never be allowed to divide world religions" "good inter-religious relations are important at this moment of heightened tension in the entire world community." John Paul ll to visiting Catholic bishops from Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, Mar 29 2003
"The Holy Father explained the Holy Spirit is mysteriously present in the heart of every person. through the practice of what is good in their own religious traditions, and following the dictates of their consciences, members of other religions positively respond to God's invitation and receive salvation in Jesus Christ, even though they may not recognize Him as their Savior." Vatican Information Service reporting on what the Pope had to say on the 'Seeds of Truth in Non-Christian Religions', Sep, 1998 (ok it is not a quote but second hand reporting from the Vatican.)
"I also entrust myself once again to you (Mary) and with confident affection I repeat to you: Totus tuus ego sum! I am all yours! " John Paul ll on occasion of World Youth Day 2003
(an appeal) "to all persons who profess a religion so that the spiritual and religious sense may be a source of unity and peace, which never confronts men among themselves." John Paul ll Vatican City, when receiving letters of credence of the new ambassadors to the Vatican of 12 countries, May 15, 2003
"International law has been for some time a law of war and peace. I believe it is called ever more to become exclusively a law of peace conceived as a function of justice and solidarity." (The basic principles behind this conviction, states the communique,) "are the same that inspire the Church's commitment in favor of peace" "equality in dignity for every human person and every human community, the unity of the human family..." "international law is called to be an instrument of justice ...the law therefore has the duty of harmoniously regulating international realities...so that conflicts can be prevented without recourse to arms, but rather through mechanisms and structures able to assure justice, removing the causes of potential conflicts."
John Paul ll in annual address to diplomatic corps accredited to Holy See Jan 13, 1997, quoted July 18, 2003 in theme announcement communique for World Day of Peace ("International Law, a Path for Peace") set for Jan 1, 2004.
"all of the just on Earth, including those who ignore Christ and his Church are called upon to build the kingdom of God." John Paul ll at an audience Dec 8, 2000 Electronic Telegraph, story no longer online
" A serious threat to peace is posed by intolerance, which manifests itself in the denial of free conscience to others." John Paul ll
"May all of you-partners in interreligious dialog- be encouraged and sustained by the knowledge that your endeavors are supported by the Catholic Church and appreciated by her as significant for strengthening the bonds which unite all people..." "in doing so (receiving monks of other religions) you offer a setting wherein a meeting of mind and heart can take place, a meeting characterized by a shared sense of brotherhood in the one human family that opens the way of even deeper spiritual dialog. " John Paul ll in meeting between Zen monks and Benedictine monks..he said that they can learn from each other and about their respective meditative practices and spiritual experiences. Theosophical Digest, Dec 1989
(it is) "clear that the future lies in unity and solidarity" (he called for ) "strengthening of the bond...between Christians and other great religions which flourish here." "May the resources of the church...set unity and love as their supreme goal." John Paul ll to Christians in Amman Jordan at a mass. This was part of his week long pilgrimage to the Holy Land to visit Christians, Muslims and Jews for meetings on peace and interfaith dialogue. July 29, 2003
"I come to you as a pilgrim of peace. My presence among you is a sign that the Catholic Church wants to enter a dialogue with the religions of the world." "religion must not be a pretext for conflict" "the peoples of all faiths must shun the path of isolation and division." John Paul ll in New Dehli India at a mass in which he drew parallels between Djwali, the Hindu festival of lights. The mass was punctuated by English and Hindi hymns, traditional dances from across Asia and prayers (to who?) offered in several languages. the stadium service was adapted for Hindu culture, with priests ringing bells and showering petals in traditional temple rituals. He later met with Hindu, buddhist, Sikh, Muslim, Jain, Parsee, Jewish and Baha'i leaders. Nov 7, 1999
" world...will, in fact, be transformed into a world in which the noblest aspirations of the human heart will triumph, a world in which true peace will prevail." John Paul ll quoted by sister Loretto Marie Colwell at Service of World Religions for Peace,at which representatives from 10 faith traditions took part, took placed at Christ the King Catholic Church in Topeka. Jan 27, 2002. The service was inspired by a similar gathering that took place Thursday in Assisi, Italy, in which Pope John Paul ll was joined by more than 200 religious leaders from around the world to pray for peace.
Pope encouraged the bishops of Indonesia to "work together as brothers, committed to peace, with your own people and with those of other religious beliefs, all men and women of good will, in order to ensure understanding, cooperation and solidarity." "Authentic religion does not advocate terrorism or violence but seeks in every way the unity and peace of the whole human family." John Paul ll in address to bishops in Indonesia March 29, 2003.
"We wish to have Christians and Muslims come together to proclaim before the world that religion must never be a reason for conflict, hatred and violence." "in this historic moment, humanity needs to see gestures of peace and to hear words of hope." "It is urgent that a common invocation be raised from earth to heaven, to implore the Almighty...the great gift of peace, the necessary condition for any serious endeavor at the service of humanity's real progress." (He entrusted the success of the initiative to the Blessed Virgin Mary.) John Paul ll , Nov 18, 2001, at meeting of world's religious leaders, announcing International prayer meeting to take place in Assisi on Jan 24. (a Day of Prayer for Peace)
"I have always believed that religious leaders have a vital role to play in nurturing that hope of justice and peace without which there will be no future worthy of humanity." Oct 28, 1999 conclusion of Interreligious Assembly: "On the Eve of the Third Millennium: Collaboration among the Diverse Religions"
"If it is imperative for the international community to foster good relations between people belonging to different ethnic and religious traditions, it is all the more urgent for believers (believers=all religions)themselves to foster relations...leading to the common concern for the well being of the whole human family." "believers are obliged to build together a just and harmonious world." "Interreligious dialog will be especially important in establishing a sure basis for peace..." "contact with the followers of other religions is often a source of great joy and encouragement. It leads us to discover how God is at work i the minds and hearts of people and indeed in their rites and customs."
"May Mary,Mother of Jesus and Mother of the Church, intercede for you all ...and encourage others to follow the genuine path of dialogue." John Paul ll in address to Council for Interreligious Dialogue Nov 11, 2001
Just one dirty bomb...
or one NUDE BOMB!
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