VATICAN VIEW: PRESSURE ON U.S. TO PREVENT WAR

The Vatican, from Pope John Paul II through its many international agencies and departments, has been stepping up the pressure on all parties in an attempt to prevent a war against Iraq by the United States and its allies.

While Vatican diplomats have warned Iraq to adhere to guidelines on inspections from the United Nations, the Churchmen seem to be focusing most of their attention on the U.S. and Great Britain, who have their fingers on figurative and literal triggers. And the attention is not subtle; as an article on page 10 notes, a top Vatican official has called a potential U.S. attack on Iraq without U.N. authorization a "crime against peace" and a violation of international law.

The Vatican has also joined with a Muslim leader to try to keep the peace. Muhammad Ahmed Sharif, general secretary of the World Islamic Call Society, and Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, have written to President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Saddam Hussein of Iraq, asking them to take steps to prevent a war.

Meanwhile, as you read this, the Vatican's foreign minister has summoned all Vatican-accredited ambassadors to shore up the role of the United Nations. He holds that while the inspection process may be slow, it represents the most effective way to deal with the crisis. Pope John Paul and his top aides are also meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and Mohammad Reza Khatami, Iran's parliament speaker (and Hussein's brother) as part of the continuing effort to stop an attack.

Ordinary Catholics, who don't have a vote in the UN or diplomatic credentials in the world's capitals, do have something more powerful. The pope has asked Catholics to fast for peace on Ash Wednesday (see page 1) and to pray ceaselessly that all sides will step back from the brink of strife. Even as individuals in our own homes, we have a big part to play in helping to maintain the peace.

(02-27-03) [[In-content Ad]]