Pope Steps Up Anti-war Crusade With Call For Christians To Fast

AFP ^

[RCW2001]

AFP Photo

Pope John Paul II stepped up his crusade against a looming war in Iraq, urging the world's Christians to stage a fast for peace on the same day as his envoy is to meet US President George W. Bush.

The pope said the day of fasting on Wednesday would remind people of the long years of suffering endured by Iraqi citizens as a result of the international embargo against the country.

The fast will coincide with a meeting Wednesday between Bush and the pope's special envoy, Cardinal Pio Laghi, who the pope has entrusted with a special plea to restrain the US leader from waging war against Iraq.

The fast is the latest in a series of efforts to avert a war by the pope, who has emerged as one of the most prominent opponents against a US-led conflict with Iraq.

In recent weeks, he has received leaders ranging from Iraq Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the US' key ally on Iraq, and Tuesday held talks with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The pontiff said the day of fasting Wednesday should "provide greater understanding of the difficulties and sufferings or our brothers confronted by hunger, misery and war."

The appeal has also been passed on by World Council of Churches in Geneva and the Synod of the Church of England.

An informal opinion poll carried out on a private Italian television channel also found that 55.7 percent of viewers said they were willing to follow the appeal to fast.

Laghi's meeting with Bush Wednesday comes amid insistences from Washington that the pope's anti-war pronouncements will not be able to sway the United States from its hardline stance on Iraq.

Jim Nicholson, US envoy to the Holy See, on Tuesday confirmed that the pope's appeal through Laghi would not influence American thinking.

"Cardinal Laghi's mission may be useful, but Iraq must disarm," he said on the private Italian television channel "La 7."

"If Saddam Hussein were to leave his country, that would be a perfect solution," Nicholson added.

Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a firm supporter of the US stance on Iraq, became the latest of the world's leaders Tuesday to hold talks on the crisis with the pope.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said that the meeting "allowed an exchange of views on the current international situation, with special emphasis on the crisis in Iraq."

The pope had already held talks Thursday with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, another key supporter of the US position on Iraq and holder of a crucial seat on the UN Security Council.

Officials at the Vatican have said the 82 year-old-pope has thrown all his energy into efforts to stop the war, despite the crippling effects of his Parkinson's disease.

"He has been more alert in the last few days, as though he wanted to give us more strength," Laghi said.

The pope has adopted a vocal stance of principled opposition against a military conflict with Iraq, saying the future of humanity can never be ensured by the logic of war.

"Marred by long-standing and seemingly relentless conflicts, the world stands on the brink of yet another war," the pope wrote last month in a pessimistic message to newly-enthroned Anglican leader Rowan Williams.

Separately, the Vatican Tuesday denied that the pope had planned to make a personal address to the United Nations Security Council if his envoy failed to deter Bush from going to war.

"There are no plans for the Holy Father to visit the United Nations," a spokesman told journalists.

[eyespysomething]

60% of food aid comes from the United States. What about all the countries who fast everyday because their "wonderful" leaders spend all the aid they receive on making their military bigger so they can crush the country who supplies aid/money/food to them!!
I can understand the Pope doesn't want war, and that's fine, but how about someone speaking up for the oppressed people around the world for a change.

[smokeyjon]

And my family wonders why I stopped going to church....

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I bet he doesn't do a TRUE Fast!!! He'll probably be drinking Ensure the whole time!! How misguided!

He is diminishing his position in my humble opinion. The way he handled the Pedophile Priests and now this. Too bad.. I was raised Catholic and have a lot of family who still are Catholic. I respect their beliefs, and I hurt for all of them and what their church is going through. There is a HUGE need for a NEW POPE.. a new Catholic Church/renewed.

Now.. about that great big cheese burger with greasy fries CALLIN MY NAME!!!

[alisasny]

Many Christians fast on Ash Wednesday anyway so .....

[Psalm 73]

Oh, that's nice - the pope is right in line with the World Council of Churches.
Does that send up any red flags for anyone here? Just curious.

[Izzy Dunne]

Has he called for Muslims to disarm?
If not, then he's just another celebrity honking at America.

[hellinahandcart]

I am SO going to break my diet tomorrow...

I'll call it the "Big Feast for *Real* Peace"

[Cable225]

The pope said the day of fasting on Wednesday would remind people of the long years of suffering endured by Iraqi citizens as a result of the international embargo against the country.

Y'know, I try to be a good Catholic. I don't agree with some of the doctrine, but I accept it. I'm no Bible-thumper, but I try to live a decent life according to the rules.

Now I'd just like the Pope to STFU. Please, please, please stay out of international affairs because whatever credibility you might have had 15 years ago, you have flushed down the drain over the last couple of years.

[hgro]

I would suggest that the Pope cleanse his own house of pedophiles and homosexuals before he starts giving advice to Christians. The Catholic Church has lost all credibility
through its acceptance of perverts that permeate the Catholic Church and that includes his own personal domain in Rome.

[AD from SpringBay]

Does that send up any red flags for anyone here? Just curious.

Now that you mention it, I do see some red flags. Maybe the Pope should call for a day of fasting begging the Lord for healing all the children who have been emotionally and spiritually scarred by the pedophile vermin of the earth.

[Russ]

The money Hussein spent on missles, planes, weapons systems, palaces, maintaining his palace guards could have fed the Iraqi people for years. I can understand the pope
wanting peace but his comments are ignorant and pathetic.

[Robe]

With all due respect: the pope has a completely different mission than the president of the United States.
While the pope is and should be concerned with the saving of mans soul, the President is responsible for the lives and safety of Americans.

I wonder how the pope would reconcile the President breaking his vow to GOD to preserve and protect, etc.

[smokeyjon]

"The pope said the day of fasting on Wednesday would remind people of the long years of suffering endured by Iraqi citizens as a result of the international embargo against the country."

The sheer hypocrisy of this statement is what disgusts me the most. He's instructing the Church to oppose the removal of the very person who brought those sanctions against these people.

[MNlurker]

And here I am trying to make an effort to go to church again after all the crap and this gets dropped on us!!!

I get the feeling that if Christ showed up tomorrow he'd start clearing out the Vatican much like he did the shopkeepers a long time ago.

Amazing that the one thing that tries to shake my faith is the church itself!!!!!

[habaes corpussel]

The Pope is a wonderful man and he is doing what he believes is right. What did most of you think he would say? Bomb them and let God sort them out?

[Overtaxed]

Ash Wednesday is a day of fast already....duh.

[Conspiracy Guy]

No matter you think about him, the Popemoble is cool. I'm thinking about modifying my 94 Taurus into a Bubbamobile, complete with lawnchair in the trunk, and a large cooler for beer.

[ErnBatavia]

Now.. about that great big cheese burger with greasy fries CALLIN MY NAME!!!

No fasting here either - not even "in shifts"

[tbpiper]

,"Big Feast for *Real* Peace",

Fantastic idea! I would suggest,BBQ pork,pork chops,pork roast,bacon & eggs,ham & eggs, BLTs, anything porcine in nature to 'honor' Islamist sensitivities. Remember Emril says "Pork Fat Rules!"