Vatican antiwar appeals intensify

Posted on Thu, Mar. 13, 2003

Pope, others portray possible strike on Iraq as criminal, immoral

VICTOR L. SIMPSON

Associated Press

VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II and top Vatican officials are unleashing a barrage

of condemnations of a possible U.S. military strike on Iraq, calling it immoral, risky and a

"crime against peace."

The unwavering stance has made the pope one of the most visible opponents of war in

current circumstances, and a rallying point for peace groups and politicians who seize on

his words counseling against war.

Even those supportive of a U.S.-led strike, including the prime ministers of Britain, Spain

and Italy, have recently lined up to see him, aware of his leadership role.

President Bush, who has rarely met with opponents of his Iraqi stand in recent months,

did receive an emissary from John Paul last week. Upon returning to Rome, the emissary,

Cardinal Pio Laghi, said American officials had been friendly but that "friendship is not

enough."

The next day, as he began a week of Lenten prayers, the pope said he will "bear in mind

the needs of the church and the concerns of all mankind, above all for peace in Iraq and

the Holy Land."

The stance reflects what experts say is the Vatican's evolving position on just war, already

seen by its opposition to the Gulf War, as well as concern about the impact of war on

relations between Christians and Muslims.

"He is looking ahead for the rest of this century where Christian-Muslim relations are key

to peace and religious freedom in Africa and many parts of Asia," said the Rev. Thomas

Reese, editor of the Jesuit magazine America.

John Paul has insisted that war is a "defeat for humanity" and that a preventive strike

against Iraq is neither legally nor morally justified.

Aides have repeatedly said the pope is not a pacifist, pointing to his support of

humanitarian intervention to "disarm the aggressor" in Bosnia and East Timor.

But in some of the Vatican's strongest language against a possible war, its foreign

minister, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, said a unilateral military strike would be a

"crime against peace" with no justification on grounds of self-defense.

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