Posted on 11/11/2004 7:16:53 AM PST by SJackson
The Vatican has praised Yasser Arafat as a charismatic leader who struggled to win independence for his people, and repeated its support of a sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Pope John Paul, who last met Arafat in 2001, retreated into private prayer when he was told of the death of the Palestinian leader earlier on Thursday in Paris, a Vatican source said.
The Pope, who made a historic trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories in 2000, sent a message saying he was particularly close to the Palestinian people "in this hour of sadness".
The 84-year-old Pope's message said he prayed that the "star of harmony" would soon bring peace to the Holy Land and that both Israelis and Palestinians could live "reconciled among themselves as two independent and sovereign states".
Earlier, a statement by the Vatican's chief spokesman called Mr Arafat the "illustrious deceased" and asked God to grant eternal rest to his soul.
"The Holy See joins the pain of the Palestinian people for the passing of President Yasser Arafat. He was a leader of great charisma who loved his people and tried to guide them towards national independence," said the statement by chief spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.
The official statement was bound to displease Israel because it made no mention of militant attacks, which the Jewish state blamed on Mr Arafat and insists must stop before the stalled peace process can get back on track.
In recent years the Vatican continued to recognise Mr Arafat as the legitimate leader of the Palestinians after Washington and Israel had written him off.
But Vatican officials privately criticised him for what one called "jumping off the peace train".
"There is no doubt that he was a towering figure for his people but his great mistake was not to sign on at Camp David," a senior Vatican prelate told Reuters.
"That was a great failure and a lot of problems stemmed from that," he said. "He missed his date with history."
At a US-brokered a peace summit in 2000 both sides came close to a final accord that would have established an independent Palestinian state, but the talks broke down over the status of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees.
Washington and Israel blamed Mr Arafat for the failure.
Over the past four years, the Vatican's improvement in relations with the Palestinian Authority coincided with a deterioration of relations with Israel.
The Pope repeatedly criticised Israeli incursions into Palestinian territories and last November, the Vatican was shocked when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon came to Rome for several days but did not ask to see the Pope.
Sorry.
I agree that the Pope and everyone should so some sympathy for the Palestinians this week. However, the lost opportunity is that for forty years, they were led by a terrorist and murderer and only in his death and after the deaths of hundreds of thousands of jews and christians are we able to reach out.
It's always tragic when bad men lead. But I think we need to encourage a new generation of leaders who will take the next step.
SD
I just re-read this ABC News article. The glowing stuff seems to be from spokesmen. The sympathy part is what you'd expect him to say about anyone dying, anyone. In short, I am finding less "here" here than my original knee jerk "oh spit" reaction.
Obscene
You got a problem with Poles? Don't make me call in the LaKiebalsa Nostra :-)
See you at church on Sunday. Bring your Bibles.
(We'll help you tear out your Apocrypha's after the service).
This is just too much to take. Why do we care anyway? Though I know there are many who do care. So, now the Vatican supports terrorist leaders? I can't wait to see their official memo on Bin Laden when he dies. I'm sure they'll laud him for trying to help his people too.
Yeah, and the Pope should shut up about Clinton, too!
Agreed. But I am not sure how the Pope's comments praising Arafat further that objective. His comments only alienate many Jews, as well as many fundamentalists Christians who believe the rightful owners of the Holy Land are the jews and not Muslim terrorists.
"The Vatican has praised Yasser Arafat as a charismatic leader who struggled to win independence for his people ... Earlier, a statement by the Vatican's chief spokesman called Mr Arafat the "illustrious deceased" and asked God to grant eternal rest to his soul."
Oh, puleeeeeeeze! A murder and terrorist was "a charismatic leader?!" (Hitler and Stalin were "charismatic", too!) "Illustrious deceased!??!?!" An evil man should be granted "eternal rest to his soul?!?!?!" Well, that may be what some in the Vatican may say, but they sure do not speak for this particular Catholic!! Arafat was a murder, terrorist, and plain evil. Hardly someone to be "illustrious!" Rest for his "eternal soul?!?!" I don't think that Hell is a place of eternal rest. Maybe we can't know for sure who will finally end up in Heaven or Hell, that is God's ultimate judgement. But by the fruits of Arafat....I doubt that he is now, or ever will, enjoy the bliss of Heaven.
Eulogizing Arafat like this is a slap in the face of Jews and of Christians. He and his organization murdered many of both. Maybe the Vatican is supposed to say "nice" things, and all that, but at least they could refrain from eulogizing someone like Arafat. One wonders next if they'll start eulogizing Stalin or Hitler. What are those people smoking over there?!
Yes I have a big problem with Poles... and their historical antisemitism which even gave a pogrom in Kielce after WWII...
The Pope is following...
Arafat is Damour, Lebanon. That is Arafat.
Well, seeing how the Pope is the "Vicar of Christ," not to mention "infallible," what he says about Yasser Arafat must be true, right?
I hadn't heard a thing about him having AIDS until I read a blurb on Powerlineblog. How did you who knew find this out? I'm curious what sources were citing this. Also, was he, in fact, a homosexual? My understanding is that he was either homo or bi.
Well, the Pope then, Pius XII had a lot of nice things to say about Hitler!
Sick.
Arafat was a terrorist.
Terrorists should not be praised, especially by people claiming to be Christian.
Bzzzzz wrong.
Infallabilty only extends to matters of faith and morals not diplomacy.
No. Infallibility does not apply to every and all circumstances. Not even close.
SD
Precisely.
It's always amusing to see the same FReepers who know the media is often biased and inaccurate take every anti-Vatican piece as gospel.
SD
Yes, she does. Poles are anti-Semites, donchaknow [her claim].
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