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.

[Bluntpoint]

The first order of business is to "inquisitionate" the little Catholic Basher Homos who wrongly accused this fine man.

[ninenot]

But if you read the Pope's speech, he makes it VERY clear that he thinks the UN is ineffective due to duplicity of its members and cantankerous stupidity from OTHER members.

He's not exactly awarding the UN the Blue Ribbon for doing a job well...

[GirlShortstop]

who wrongly accused this fine man.

You have become quite warped.

[Polycarp IV]

[Bluntpoint]

But if you read the Pope's speech, he makes it VERY clear that he thinks the UN is ineffective due to duplicity of its members and cantankerous stupidity from OTHER members.

Would you post that part of the speech please, in English!

[Hacksaw]

The first order of business is to "inquisitionate" the little Catholic Basher Homos who wrongly accused this fine man.

Maybe you could point out all the Catholic Freepers who were defending him.

[ninenot]

Actually, Geoghan WAS our first order of business. But we were wasting time assembling the tools: racks, Iron Maidens, firewood, ...

and lost our opportunity.

[ninenot]

<>i>7. It must be acknowledged, however, that the United Nations Organization, even with limitations and delays due in great part to the failures of its members,

There's more--the whole speech is posted at (roughly) #253

[GirlShortstop]

There's more--the whole speech is posted at (roughly) #253

It was very charitable of you ninenot to oblige its request ... turn the other cheek sorta thing.
Nice going!  FReegards.

[Bluntpoint]

Warped?

I have Catholic In-laws! The insufferable, everything is better Catholic variety.

[Bluntpoint]

But we were wasting time assembling the tools: racks, Iron Maidens, firewood, ...

I have a case of Miller Lite, what ya doing later?

[Bluntpoint]

Thanks!

[Gal.5:1]

Shouldn't that be written in Latin and hidden away, so we couldn't possibly find it much less understand what is says?

[Beck_isright]

The senile old fart has morphed into Karl Marx. Great, just great.

[GirlShortstop]

I have Catholic In-laws! The insufferable, everything is better Catholic variety.

Differing diametrically to the ABC^¹ variety you'd prefer?

¹anything but catholic

[G.Mason]

Good points.

[Bluntpoint]

Your so cheeky!

[truth_seeker]

"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."

Does even the Pope have to beat around the bush, for the sake of Politcal Correctness?

The name of the problem is "Islamist Terrorism" your holiness.

[RightWhale]

Pope is right. The time has come, long ago really, to disband the UN and start over.

[avenir]

"... he cannot simply resign himself and the Church to accepting, apathetically, the status quo."

No, but he has no business calling for a cure that's worse than the disease. God showed what he thought of man's "international order" when He confused languages at the tower of Babel.

Helping the poor is feasible, as long as you don't start indulging fantasies of "ending" it. That's impossible in this life, per Jesus. (Some poverty is self-inflicted via laziness/alcohol-drug abuse/pride...how does one "end" that?)

Trying to avoid war is feasible, but "ending" war is not. Avoiding it for as long as possible between outbreaks is hard enough, and ironically--for those who can't face the reality and necessity of war--is staved off by being militarily powerful enough to discourage would-be attackers.

Again, how can one come away from the Bible with illusions about man and his ability to live a righteous life? The Bible doesn't even offer "world peace": it offers peace to those who "call on the Name of the Lord".