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.

[habaes corpussel]

"(And anyone who believes that the Bible is the Word of God cannot believe that Mohammed and the Allah of the Koran have anything whatsoever to do with the one true God.)"

You were doing really well until you wrote this. I never said I belive in Muhammad or Allah. Though I have an understanding of Islam and the Hadith and how it is being used by the extremists. Of course when you wrote this you did not mean to direct this at our Jewish brithers who also don't believe in the entire Bible.

More over it is the understanding and communicating between the religions which we all do very poorly in. While this DOES NOT MEAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE EXTREMISTS. Just to make that point clear.

[The Irishman]

This thread is full of hate. The references to the Pope, a holy man, are beneath contempt. I will fast tomorrow, in part to separated myself from the ignorant comments of the rabble congregating on this thread. It reminds me of another proud day when I reported for my induction physical in 1968. Then I proudly marched into that building, delivered there by my Father, through a crowd of demonstators against the War in Vietnam. The Peaceniks were the rabble then, now the rabble are the "froth at the mouth" warmongers who know nothing of limits or decency.

The anti-Catholic posters on this thread deserve only contempt.

[Nubbin]

I have no problem fasting for a peaceful liberation of Iraq

Neither do I. When I pray the rosary tomorrow I will pray for peace in the world JUST AS I ALWAYS DO!.

[FredZarguna]

The same question can be asked of the President?

Just keep thinking W is stupid. Really. The stupider you think he is, the better I like it. There's no faster road to defeat than to underestmate your adversary. Please, your delusional world-view makes you feel smug and superior. You're comfortable in your prejudice. That's good. Meanwhile, "stupid" W is kicking your political, ideological, and cultural ass.

Please. Keep thinking like you're thinking. You are wonderful, urbane, cosmopolitan, sophisticated. The rest of us are just pick-em-up truck driving hicks with pitchers of Dale posted on our den walls. I'm drinking cheap beer and watching WWF right now. My IQ is like, 1/2 of yours, maybe less. I might even be a mollusk for all the capacity I have. Keep pretending. We like it that way.

By the way, us dumb-asses control all of the branches of the federal government now, and most of the states, too. Ha Ha Ha Ha.

You are sooooooooooo smart. Really, you are.

[Tench_Coxe]

Talk about spin. Catholics are supposed to fast on Ash Wednesday.

[singsong]

Islam is different. It came later and denounced Christianity and Judaism. This is the peg. The last two are also very different but that's irrelevant in the context of studying religious hostilities. Islam turned back and snaped at its roots. I believe this is important to remember.

[ExpandNATO]

I would love to hear what is socialist about getting rid of socialism.

[ExpandNATO]

Ask the British how they did in their crusades in the Middle East?

Richard the Lion-Hearted defeated Saladin at the battle of Arsouf in September of 1191. Saladin then played a delaying game of burning everything in sight and poisoning water wells to deny the Third Crusade supplies. Richard wisely decided that he could not retake Jerusalem under those circumstances. Eventually, Richard concluded a treaty with Saladin giving Christian pilgrims going to Jerusalem special rights and privileges (ie no robbing the Christians). It should also be noted that Richard was very good at logistics (the Western Crusaders number one weak point).

Saladin died the next year and the Crusader states got a short respite.

Too bad all the Crusades were not as successful.

[tubebender]

Every Tuesday my paper reprints a Front Page from their past Todays reprint is from August 31, 1939. It's not on their web site so I can't link it.

FEAR SHOWDOWN NEAR
British evacuate London

Below the fold is a small article

POPE IN NEW PEACE PLEA

Hitler was about to slaughter millions...nothing has changed

[Iowegian]

It has its own coins, stamps, gov't and post office.

Whoopee, so does Elvis.

[tomahawk]

Advocating a policy which keeps a mass-murdering despot in power, presiding over a prison of 20 million people, as the despot builds a witch's brew of poisons and nukes with which to murder us and our children is not a position I have any respect for. And this is what I read as the Pope's position.

[chainsaw]

Now the Pope is on a hunger strike. What next?

[MagnusMat]

What a good reason not to go to Church.

[MagnusMat]

Personally, I dont see a contradiction between the Pope and George Bush. The Church has always said that when applying the Just war theory, it is up to each legitimate leader (s)to use prudence. It is my judgment that the Pope is trying to use his influence to mediate a non-combative solution to the situation. In the end, we must all hope and pray that Hussein forfeits and allows for International law to take force. They John Paul II and President Bush have the same goal, but different means. Here again, in my personal judgment, I would be nervous if the pope or any spiritual leader was anxious to engage in military combat. This is why God ordained that the Church and State be distinct. They both have two different roles and gifts. Keep in mind the pope is no dummy or wimp, he was instrumental in bringing down communism. He faced both Nazism and Communism all his life in one form or the other. In fact his whole life has been fighting evil in one form or the other. I know for a fact that while President Bush has different means to the end, he has the utmost respect for this pope as do most leaders. Lets keep in mind who the real enemy is here, Hussein, not to mention Clinton who sat on his ass for eight while Hussein and Bin Ladn gathered strength and momentum. Best wishes to all my fellow freepers!

[MagnusMat]

Hi:

I go to Church to worship God not because I agree with the pope regarding a prudential judgment. I don't agree with everything the President does, so am I going to stop doing my civic duties. I hope you are not be too simplistic here!

[SoothingDave]

It has its own coins, stamps, gov't and post office.

Whoopee, so does Elvis.

Elvis is a sovereign state? You can't be that dumb, so I'll chalk it up to your desire to belittle that which you don't understand.

SD

[habaes corpussel]

"Islam is different. It came later and denounced Christianity and Judaism. This is the peg. The last two are also very different but that's irrelevant in the context of studying religious hostilities. Islam turned back and snaped at its roots. I believe this is important to remember."

Yes it did and Christianity and Judasim were not so innocent against the Muslims either. NO I believe the roots of Islam did not snap for most honorable Muslims believe in the more importants roots of Islam. Though it has been hijacked and twisted. It is the extremists who we should be focusing on. Not Islam as a religion.

[asformeandformyhouse]

Only a fool would think another a fool

A fool and his money are soon parted!

[habaes corpussel]

"A fool and his money are soon parted!"

Yea, about $100 Billion worth.......

[daguberment]

Pope might consider sending a few dozen pedophile priests over to Baghdad as human sheilds.