Pope wants new international order to keep peace

Reuters | January 1, 2004 | Claire Soares

[HAL9000]

VATICAN CITY, Jan 1 (Reuters) - The world needs a "new international order" to solve its conflicts and ensure peace, Pope John Paul said in his New Year's Day address on Thursday.

The ghosts of 2003 -- when the United States invaded Iraq without United Nations approval -- dominated the pope's first speech of 2004.

"More than ever we need a new international order which draws on the experience and results of the United Nations," the 83-year-old pontiff said at a mass in St Peter's Basilica.

"An order which is capable of finding adequate solutions to today's problems, based on the dignity of human beings, on integrating all society, on solidarity between rich and poor countries, on the sharing of resources and the extraordinary results of scientific and technological progress," he added.

Speaking at Christendom's largest church, the pope urged people not to lose hope of finding peace in the Holy Land, which the Vatican feels is vital to winning the war on terror.

"The land in which Jesus was born sadly continues to live in a dramatic condition. And in other parts of the world sparks of violence and conflict have not been extinguished either. But we need to persevere and not bow to the temptation of losing hope."

Turning to Africa, the pope paid tribute to his Burundi ambassador, Michael Courtney, killed on Monday in an ambush the army has blamed on rebels who have refused to join a peace process to end a 10-year conflict.

"(He) was tragically killed...while he was going about his mission of promoting dialogue and reconciliation. We pray for him and hope his example and sacrifice will bear the fruits of peace in Burundi and the world," the pope said.

The leader of the world's one billion Catholics, who suffers from Parkinson's disease that makes it difficult for him to talk, seemed alert and read all of his homily in a clear voice.

But it is unclear what 2004 holds for him. For the first time since his election in 1978, the pope enters the new year with no firm plans for travel, although there have been some invitations.

He was particularly weak on his last foreign trip, a visit to Slovakia in September, when aides had to read most of his addresses for him.

[LibKill]

I blame everyone for everything.

You would. :)

[Bluntpoint]

My Korean neighbor is always picking up strays.

[Muleteam1]

Please see my message # 81.

Muleteam1

[GirlShortstop]

There is no supportable motive for terrorism.

Motive or JUSTIFICATION?

[sinkspur]

Once again, FReepers go into a mental cacoon when the Vatican says anything.

This is not "the Vatican." It's the Pope, who has STILL not expressed public gratitude to God for the liberation of the Iraqi people from a mass murderer.

[G.Mason]

" ....... Mine relates to being an older American. It ain't fun and it hurts a lot....... "

Yes Sir! I can relate to that.

Hell, I need a days rest after a day in the boat fishing.

Life is good!

[GirlShortstop]

the Pope, who has STILL not expressed public gratitude to God for the liberation of the Iraqi people from a mass murderer.

You're being ridiculous .... as if the man says to himself "drat!  Iraqis are free".

[Bluntpoint]

Of course the Pope screamed to high heaven when Libya was appointed to head the U.N. Human Rights commission.

Right?

[sinkspur]

Motive or JUSTIFICATION?

There is no acceptable motive or justification for terrorism.

[sinkspur]

No. A recognition that even his own Chaldean Catholics no longer have to fear Saddam Hussein would be nice.

[LibKill]

There is no acceptable motive or justification for terrorism.

Well said.

[FITZ]

I would have thought so ---- but we'll see how long America lasts as far as how it was meant to last by the Founding Fathers. I think we're already pretty far gone as far as the Constitution and government by the people. The Catholic Church has lasted a long time.

[Bluntpoint]

It has been scientifically proven that terrorisim is caused by an inner ear disorder.

[BlackElk]

The Jesuits ceased being Catholic, much less the Pope's men (4th vow takers), about forty years ago. They ran the prep school I attended when they were still Catholic. Now they need to be suppressed by the Vatican as they were in the 18th century. The Inquisition needs to be revived, though. Such AmChurchian phonies posing as Catholic as Ted Kennedy, Tom Harkin, Tom Daschle, Patty Murray, Nancy Pelosi, Patrick Leahy, Christopher Dodd, Barbara Mikulski, Mary Landrieu, Dickie Durbin, Dennis Kucinich, Carol Mostly Fraud, John Kerry, Roger Cardinal McPhony, Bishop Joseph Adamec, Bishop Delaney, Bishop Grahmann, Rosa DeLauro, and so many others need a good inquiry and its logical aftermath.

Tomas de Torquemada, pray for us! Cardinal Ximinez, pray for us!

BTW, the Inquisition was not at all limited to Spain nor should it have been or be.

[sinkspur]

Of course the Pope screamed to high heaven when Libya was appointed to head the U.N. Human Rights commission.

How about an acknowledgement of Libya's giving up weapons of terrorism?

An Italian politician said, in an insightful article last year, that the Vatican beats up on the West because it knows it can and there will be no retribution.

There is rarely an acknowledgement of the damage done by Muslim extremism. To be fair, some of this stuff comes, not from the Pope himself, but from an anti-Western curial element, led by buffoons like Archbishop Martino.

[Publius6961]

With all due respect, I still embrace the admonition to Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's..., and wistfully recall the wisdom of Urban II.

As for any international body, the jokes that have been the ones we have seen in the last century, The League of Nations and The United Nations, more people killed, butchered and burned to a crisp under both sad excuses for peacekeepers. What is the point if millions are allowed to die without a "declaration of war"?

Peacekeeping belongs to the strongest. Always has. Always will. When the weak get together, their main objective always becomes to take down the strong and somehow to replace it. Has never worked. Never will.

[BlackElk]

I've noticed.

[GirlShortstop]

There is no acceptable motive or justification for terrorism.

No kiddin'?!  Well I'll be.    </sarcasm off>

Two different words sink - motive versus justification.  You're spinning into some strange realm with the Christmas message, and not making much sense to me.  With that, I'll refrain from further discussion of it.  FReegards and Happy New Year.

[pctech]

Can anyone say, "One World Government?"

[cajungirl]

I haven't read the entire thread but I think the Pope just said the UN was history. but what alarmed me was the alliance of rich and poor countries and the "sharing" of resources. Now I don't mind sharing but when I hear this kind of talk, I feel like someone is coming to get my goodies just like they did in Rhodesia. Voluntary sharing is one thing but rarely does it remain voluntary when internationalist/socialists get involved. That said, the Pope is a good man and who can argue with the desire to end war.