The Pope has not condemned the United States role in the war in Iraq
More from extreme Catholic:
Is there an on-the-record statement from John Paul II? Doubtful.
More support for my claim that the Pope never condemned the US role in Iraq from Fr. Robert Sirico of the Acton Institute on today's Laura Ingraham program.
He said that while the Pope did not advocate the war, he accepts that President Bush has the responsibility to decide and this is a prudential decision where people acting according to properly formed consciences can come to different conclusions.
I'm most willing to retract this claim if someone can send me a link to a on-the-record statement from the Holy Father on this point.
Is there an on-the-record statement from John Paul II? Doubtful.
posted by David at 6:37 PM
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Pope urges world to avoid Iraq war
Wednesday, December 25, 2002 Posted: 9:25 AM EST (1425 GMT)
VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II used his Christmas Day address to urge the world to avoid war in the Middle East, an apparent reference to the crisis over Iraq.
Without naming countries, the pope said efforts for peace were urgently needed "in the Middle East, to extinguish the ominous smouldering of a conflict which, with the joint efforts of all, can be avoided."
He also spoke of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, calling on the builders of peace in the Holy Land "to put an end once and for all to the senseless spiral of blind violence."
His remarks echoed recent comments about Iraq by top Vatican officials, who have reiterated Catholic teaching that "preventative" war is not justifiable, The Associated Press said.
Under gray, drizzly skies, some 20,000 pilgrims and tourists holding umbrellas heard the pope's annual "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and to the world) Christmas message at St. Peter's Square.
The square was adorned with a towering Christmas tree and life-sized nativity scene; John Paul entered in a white, open-topped vehicle.
Breaking with tradition, the pope was forced to deliver his message from under a canopy on the square instead of from the basilica's central balcony, which is being renovated.
On the day that marks Jesus's birth in Bethlehem, the pope -- appearing frail and speaking in a trembling and hoarse voice -- warned of the risk that peace faces around the world from terrorism.
"From the cave of Bethlehem there rises today an urgent appeal to the world not to yield to mistrust, suspicion and discouragement, even though the tragic reality of terrorism feeds uncertainties and fears," John Paul said.
The pope said political, economic and social crises were disturbing the "serenity of many families and nations" in Latin America, an apparent reference to the recent turmoil in Argentina and Venezuela.
"May humanity accept the Christmas message of peace!" John Paul declared.
The pope said Africa's famines and "tragic internal conflicts" were also worrisome, though he noted that "here and there signs of hope are present."
At the end of the message, which was broadcast to tens of millions of people in 50 countries, the pope read Christmas greetings in 62 languages, including Arabic and Hebrew.
John Paul's sense of humour was also on display: As he introduced his comments in Latin, he told the crowd, "Let's see if you understand Latin."
In his traditional Christmas Eve midnight Mass, John Paul told a packed St. Peter's Basilica that world events offered a chance for hope. (Full story)
In that address, the pope made no mention of specific world events but said the "whole human family" might find hope and peace in the image of the infant Jesus, a small baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
"Jesus is born for humanity searching for freedom and for peace," said the 82-year-old pontiff, who appeared frail but had no apparent trouble reading his message. This marks his 25th Christmas as pope.
"The historical event which we are experiencing in history is the way, the way given to us as a means of encountering the glorious Christ," he said in the homily.
"The centuries and the millennia pass, but the sign remains, and it remains valid for us, too -- the men and women of the third millennium."
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