shamsery
24-02-03, 04:06 PM
Let me share though I do not agree. We don't have that unity and selfrespect.
__________________________________________________ _
POPE TELLS BLAIR: DON'T DIVIDE WORLD
Lindsay Mcgarvie
THE Pope yesterday urged Tony Blair to avoid the "tragedy" of a new Gulf War.
He asked the Prime Minister to make "every effort to avoid new divisions in the world."
Spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said Blair was left in no doubt about the Pope's opposition to US and British-led strikes against Saddam Hussein.
But the Vatican meeting between Pope John Paul II and the Prime Minister was said to be "cordial".
The Pope told the Prime Minister that conflict should only be a last resort and must be backed by the United Nations. And he said the people of Iraq had suffered enough through 12 years of sanctions.
The meeting had been in doubt earlier this week as the Pope felt uncomfortable meeting the premier because of his drive towards war.
The ailing Pontiff is also said to be exhausted by meetings with a succession of world leaders in recent days - including Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan and German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. He also sent an envoy to meet Saddam Hussein.
Speculation that the Pope met him reluctantly has almost certainly upset Blair, who is said to be considering conversion to Catholicism when he steps down as Prime Minister.
The statement issued yesterday on behalf of the Pope said: "In the course of a cordial, half-hour meeting, there were talks about the complex international situation with particular regard to the Middle East.
"The Holy Father hoped that in solving the grave situation in Iraq, every effort would be made to avoid new divisions in the world."
Navarro-Valls also said: "In the course of the talks it was again stressed the necessity for all interested parties in the Iraqi crisis to work with the United Nations and adopt the resources offered by international law to avoid the tragedy of a war which is still avoidable on all parts."
Gifts were exchanged, with the premier giving the Pope a white vase with a motif of Downing Street and a bronze statue of St Margaret of Scotland.
In return, the Blairs received commemorative Vatican medals in gold, silver and bronze while Cherie Blair was also given a rosary.
In keeping with the strict news blackout demanded by Downing Street, no British official would comment on the talks but a Vatican source said: "The Pope's view is well known. He has already said war would be a defeat for humanity and he feels that the Iraqi people have already suffered enough."
The Blair family prepared for their private audience with the Pope by spending Friday night at the Pontifical Irish College, which has rooms available to pilgrims for £20 a night. The college is for trainee priests, including one, called Ragheed Ganni, from Iraq. It is not known if he and Blair met.
Yesterday, one Irish priest who is staying at the college said: "I hope the Pope had a good talk with Mr Blair. We don't want a war and on Friday we had a peace vigil so it's all very good timing."
Blair came under more pressure yesterday when the new Anglican bishop for the diocese which contains his constituency of Sedgefield accused him and President Bush of behaving like "vigilantes".
Canon Tom Wright, soon to be Bishop of Durham, warned of a Muslim backlash if American and British troops launch an assault on the leader of Iraq.
He said: "The tragedy is that two people who are driving us towards this war are two world leaders who are known to be practising Christians.
"To the Muslim world, a war could begin to look like a crusade against them."
Ref:http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/page.cfm?objectid=12667376&method=full&siteid=86024
__________________________________________________ _
POPE TELLS BLAIR: DON'T DIVIDE WORLD
Lindsay Mcgarvie
THE Pope yesterday urged Tony Blair to avoid the "tragedy" of a new Gulf War.
He asked the Prime Minister to make "every effort to avoid new divisions in the world."
Spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said Blair was left in no doubt about the Pope's opposition to US and British-led strikes against Saddam Hussein.
But the Vatican meeting between Pope John Paul II and the Prime Minister was said to be "cordial".
The Pope told the Prime Minister that conflict should only be a last resort and must be backed by the United Nations. And he said the people of Iraq had suffered enough through 12 years of sanctions.
The meeting had been in doubt earlier this week as the Pope felt uncomfortable meeting the premier because of his drive towards war.
The ailing Pontiff is also said to be exhausted by meetings with a succession of world leaders in recent days - including Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan and German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. He also sent an envoy to meet Saddam Hussein.
Speculation that the Pope met him reluctantly has almost certainly upset Blair, who is said to be considering conversion to Catholicism when he steps down as Prime Minister.
The statement issued yesterday on behalf of the Pope said: "In the course of a cordial, half-hour meeting, there were talks about the complex international situation with particular regard to the Middle East.
"The Holy Father hoped that in solving the grave situation in Iraq, every effort would be made to avoid new divisions in the world."
Navarro-Valls also said: "In the course of the talks it was again stressed the necessity for all interested parties in the Iraqi crisis to work with the United Nations and adopt the resources offered by international law to avoid the tragedy of a war which is still avoidable on all parts."
Gifts were exchanged, with the premier giving the Pope a white vase with a motif of Downing Street and a bronze statue of St Margaret of Scotland.
In return, the Blairs received commemorative Vatican medals in gold, silver and bronze while Cherie Blair was also given a rosary.
In keeping with the strict news blackout demanded by Downing Street, no British official would comment on the talks but a Vatican source said: "The Pope's view is well known. He has already said war would be a defeat for humanity and he feels that the Iraqi people have already suffered enough."
The Blair family prepared for their private audience with the Pope by spending Friday night at the Pontifical Irish College, which has rooms available to pilgrims for £20 a night. The college is for trainee priests, including one, called Ragheed Ganni, from Iraq. It is not known if he and Blair met.
Yesterday, one Irish priest who is staying at the college said: "I hope the Pope had a good talk with Mr Blair. We don't want a war and on Friday we had a peace vigil so it's all very good timing."
Blair came under more pressure yesterday when the new Anglican bishop for the diocese which contains his constituency of Sedgefield accused him and President Bush of behaving like "vigilantes".
Canon Tom Wright, soon to be Bishop of Durham, warned of a Muslim backlash if American and British troops launch an assault on the leader of Iraq.
He said: "The tragedy is that two people who are driving us towards this war are two world leaders who are known to be practising Christians.
"To the Muslim world, a war could begin to look like a crusade against them."
Ref:http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/page.cfm?objectid=12667376&method=full&siteid=86024