[SoothingDave]

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".

So the Pope prayed for Arafat's soul, expressed sympathy for a grieving people, and expressed a desire for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

What part of this is "bad" or "unChristian" again?

SD

[sodpoodle]

Ask not what your God can do for you, but what you can do for God's children?

Time for the Vatican to be a peace maker not a side taker!

[SJackson]

So the Pope prayed for Arafat's soul, expressed sympathy for a grieving people, and expressed a desire for a peaceful resolution to the conflict….what part of this is "bad" or "unChristian" again?

None of it. I’d say describing Arafat as a charismatic leader who struggled to win independence and a towering figure for his people is off base politically, though certainly not un-Christian either

Of course I admit I think Christianity would be better off with Bethlehem on Israel’s side of the wall rather than Arafat’s too.

[AmericaUnited]

So the Pope prayed for Arafat's soul, expressed sympathy for a grieving people, and expressed a desire for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

What part of this is "bad" or "unChristian" again?

Dave, once the person is DEAD, it's too late to pray for their soul. That is "unChristian" and against what the Bible teaches. Try not to display your ignorance on these matters.