Posted on 01/01/2004 5:55:35 AM PST by 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.
My point is it hasn't stopped. It won't stop until men listen to peace. The Holy Father is trying to appeal to all. Until we all listen it will continue.
Violent men only understand violence, that's true. And violence begits (did I spell that right?) more violence.
Blessed are the peacemakers.
You plead your case so well, good sir.
Where may I sign up?
Cap'n, we aren't the problem. Yet, the Holy Father tries to drag the "rich-vs-poor" argument into the equation, as if the United States is responsible for the hostility in the very rich Arab oil states.
Yes. Blessed are the peacemakers. But it does no good for the Pope to preach peace to nations who want it as much or more than he does.
JPII's support of Solidarity in Poland which spread freedom across the eastern block played just as much a role, if not more.
Why are you obsessed with undermining JPII's efforts and successes --and in this thread-- motives?
What collossal hypocrisy!
Thank heavens we're not like those third world reprobates who think they have a right to our standard of living! Gasp! They should be happy we let them work in the mines that provide the raw materials of our wealth and the oil rigs that fire the engines of our capitalistic machine and the factories that produce our cheap Wally World lifestyles! Let them eat cake (and chemical contraceptives!)
Well, I wouldn't agree that Solidarity was as powerful as the Pershing missles, but that's certainly debatable.
Brian, I'm not undermining JPII's efforts. He is doing it himself. Calling for another UN, with more emphasis on the "rich-vs-poor" issue is a clear slap at the rich Western nations.
He also seems to feel that there may be some reason we ought to listen to what motivates the terrorists. These terrorists, most prominently, are funded by very wealthy nations.
What possible "motivations" he has in mind simply confound me.
I don't think John Paul II wants to come to terms with what is at work here: Muslim extremists, driven to destroy a culture that they abhor.
That culture includes the Western culture that he is very much a part of.
How about the purest gospel motives, Sink?
Ascribing to him any other alterior motives is sinful.
Just because you cannot grasp his motives does not make his motives wrong or nefarious.
And the problem with a clear slap as selfish rich western nations is...what is it again?
Third world? Arab countries are sitting on pools of oil valued at trillions of dollars! It's not our fault that Muslim fundamentalism funnels the dollars into the pockets of the corrupt rulers of those countries (i.e., the Bandars in Saudi Arabia and the Mullahs in Iran).
Here's a clue, Brian: when the Arab world adopts democracy, maybe their people WILL have our standard of living.
Ever hear the Pope calling for democracy in these backward, Muslim countries?
I don't think you and America want to come to terms with what the bottom line is here: America no longer possesses a moral high ground from which to campaign this global war on terror. Did it ever occur to you that JPII sees and knows far more than you or I will ever hope?
He is not a drooling old doddard, Sink. He is a brilliant man, a mystic, the Pope of the Third Secret.
He knows what is coming and he is sincerely trying to mitigate the sufferings standing at our very door step.
You are wrong to ascribe to him any other motive whatsoever.
It's stupid, as the United States is not a selfish Western nation, as is evidenced by the aid we're pouring into the earthquake region in Iran, a country whose rulers despise us.
...be no different than us, i.e., a pragmatically atheistic materialistic capitalistic culture of death?
What good is "unfettered capitalism and democracy" if they destroy the eternal soul even more effectively than communism did?
Wanna know what happens to Christianity when it dwells too long in oppulence, license disguised as "freedom", and wealth?
Bishop Robinsons and Father Geoghans and 85% of Catholic laity committing the mortal sins of contraception, sterilization and abortion.
No.
He knows what is coming and he is sincerely trying to mitigate the sufferings standing at our very door step.
Then tell him to preach to the Muslims, a religion he obviously feels some affinity for, since he never calls them to account. It is from this religion that the terrorists draw their justification, and, bastardized though it is, the Pope would do much more for mankind by condemning this abomination.
You are wrong to ascribe to him any other motive whatsoever.
Perhaps. But, so far, he has given no encouragement to the people of Iraq as they struggle to throw off the yoke of Saddam Hussein.
If people really do learn from this near-total flop, it would be a boon to the world.
Just complaining without a clear program that is empiracally likely to do some long term good, is just the null set. Actually, it is worse, it is a negative, and immoral. It is immoral because it allows one to feel that they care, without actually doing anything in reality other than being a useful idiot. That is a recipe for continued entropy, and I denounce it.
That is how I see it, and call it.
Yes, we can be and are "good" in some ways even now, but when does the murder of the innocents and exportation of the culture of death outweigh the good we do?
You say it does not.
I say it did long ago.
No.
Then you are a more blind and prideful fool than I ever imagined.
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