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.

[Rebelbase]

"The world needs a Warrior Pope. Not an appeaser."

That sounds like a 10th century battle cry.

[BlackElk]

It would be a good thing if applied to the miscreants I mentioned, wouldn't it? I do admit that it is fun to annoy those who deserve annoyance.

[BlackElk]

Those were the good old days.

[Rebelbase]

My compliments to you on your change of profession.

[Bluntpoint]

I have one more chance. Just one more chance.

Curse Blackelk for only affording me one more chance!

[Tao Yin]

Matthew 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

Jesus said this after he called Peter the rock. (Matthew 16:18) So if you say that Peter is the rock, then you must also say that Peter is Satan.

Sorry, Jesus did not found the Catholic Church. He would not create something so flawed.

I don't know why Catholics have this special thing about being blessed. The people are the containers. The important thing is what is inside. Mary was a container. She was blessed because she was allowed to carry Jesus. Peter was a container. He was blessed because of the belief the Holy Spirit revealed to him. The belief was the rock on which to build the church, not Peter. Being blessed does not make you special. It means that God did something special for you.

You see. I am saved by grace, through faith, for works.

I do not need the Catholic Church to be saved. The only thing I need to be saved is the Rock; the belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. The Holy Spirit gave this belief to me. I did not earn salvation; It was given to me without my deserving it. I am blessed.

[Paulus Invictus]

As do I. What, exactly, constitututes the"experience and results of the UN?" The experience and results include such failures as Bosnia, Somalia, Ruanda and many more. The UN is a useless body of leeches, doing nothing worthwhile. The US should leave the UN and the UN should leave the US now! Other than that, I have no strong opinions on the matter.

[BlackElk]

Those are pictures of the West Hartford, Connecticut police working over pro-lifers on June 17, 1989. You can't fool me. That is not your second truth of the day.

[WackyKat]

Tomas de Torquemada, pray for us! Cardinal Ximinez, pray for us! BTW, the Inquisition was not at all limited to Spain nor should it have been or be.

Thanks for revealing your true attitude-and kookery.

[Bluntpoint]

Well it was a change. But not from anything anyone civilized would call a profession.

[clamper1797]

"More than ever we need a new international order which draws on the experience and results of the United Nations,"

Yeah ... that's the ticket.

Dementia strikes deep ... into your mind it will creep

[cajungirl]

Well, it would be nice to see some of them get their comeuppance. But the Inquisition? Well, that is a bit heavy if you ask me. I noticed you asked for prayers from the Cardinal who founded Opus Dei, is that the one? Lately I have been interested in Opus Dei,,it started when I discovered Hansen and Freeh were members and then Freeh sort of disappeared. Then I read the DaVinci Code and it escalated from there. Are you Opus Dei per chance?

[Publius6961]

How about an acknowledgement of Libya's giving up weapons of terrorism?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha a ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

A little comic relief is good. Thank you for that. By the way, I too, vowed to give up weapons of mass destruction and got no press whatsoever. What's fair about that?

[Bluntpoint]

[philetus]

Living proof that Parkinson's disease affects the thought process.

[cyncooper]

As a Catholic, I love JPII dearly. However, I cannot agree with him on this.

Same here. I am extremely disappointed that reflection and prayer have led him to make these pronouncements. It is clear the "results" of the United Nations are profound corruption that turns a blind eye to human suffering while coddling evil dictators who sponsor terrorists.

[the blood of tyrants]

The Pope should keep his senile comments out of politics.

[Consort]

Poping is a tough job. Maybe he meant a new Religious Order, like an Order of Rogue Militant Nuns to patrol the Earth and slay the sinners. They could be called The Sisters of No More Mercy.

[cajungirl]

Whatever happened to Louis Freeh? He has been perplexiing to me. He sort of iinternationalized the FBI then something strange happened on his watch. He was a disappointment in a way. Then he just vanished. I wonder what he is doing.

[cajungirl]

LOL,,armed with rulers.