Pope wants new international order to keep peace

Reuters | January 1, 2004 | Claire Soares

[HAL9000]

VATICAN CITY, Jan 1 (Reuters) - The world needs a "new international order" to solve its conflicts and ensure peace, Pope John Paul said in his New Year's Day address on Thursday.

The ghosts of 2003 -- when the United States invaded Iraq without United Nations approval -- dominated the pope's first speech of 2004.

"More than ever we need a new international order which draws on the experience and results of the United Nations," the 83-year-old pontiff said at a mass in St Peter's Basilica.

"An order which is capable of finding adequate solutions to today's problems, based on the dignity of human beings, on integrating all society, on solidarity between rich and poor countries, on the sharing of resources and the extraordinary results of scientific and technological progress," he added.

Speaking at Christendom's largest church, the pope urged people not to lose hope of finding peace in the Holy Land, which the Vatican feels is vital to winning the war on terror.

"The land in which Jesus was born sadly continues to live in a dramatic condition. And in other parts of the world sparks of violence and conflict have not been extinguished either. But we need to persevere and not bow to the temptation of losing hope."

Turning to Africa, the pope paid tribute to his Burundi ambassador, Michael Courtney, killed on Monday in an ambush the army has blamed on rebels who have refused to join a peace process to end a 10-year conflict.

"(He) was tragically killed...while he was going about his mission of promoting dialogue and reconciliation. We pray for him and hope his example and sacrifice will bear the fruits of peace in Burundi and the world," the pope said.

The leader of the world's one billion Catholics, who suffers from Parkinson's disease that makes it difficult for him to talk, seemed alert and read all of his homily in a clear voice.

But it is unclear what 2004 holds for him. For the first time since his election in 1978, the pope enters the new year with no firm plans for travel, although there have been some invitations.

He was particularly weak on his last foreign trip, a visit to Slovakia in September, when aides had to read most of his addresses for him.

[independentmind]

I believe that John Paul II will eventually be canonized. Which just goes to show you that even saints are imperfect, fallible human beings...

[sinkspur]

I'm sure you are probably right. The press consistently misquotes him.

The press misquotes him, sometimes.

In regards to war and peace, the Pope has, for 25 years, advocated that the United Nations be the vehicle. So it is not likely he was misquoted in calling for a "new international order" with the UN at its head, to head off American unilateralism.

I'm still waiting for John Paul II to be publicly grateful to God for the liberation of the Iraqi people.

[Dallas59]

No.

[depenzz]

I am 73, exMarine, and just as tough as I have always been. In fact more so than before.
I think getting old has nothing to do with it......its what you were like before you got old.
No disrespect for the Pope but I doubt he was very strong before he got old.
I agree, he needs to find a nice soft couch and let the rest of the world go by or, maybe work on the problems he has with his church.
Besides, whats the alternative, you either get old or you die....I'll take getting old.

[_Jim]

Perhaps it relates to a better perspective of the pain and suffering involved in war?

More likely: fading memories that blur those distinctions that once were clear, loss of the ability to perceive those truths that lie beneath the surface AS portrayed by the reporting press of the world with their ever-present (and not so hidden) biases and agendas ...

[M Kehoe]

when the United States invaded Iraq without United Nations approval -- dominated the pope's first speech of 2004.

Disclaimer: I am a practicing Catholic.

One, U.N. Resolution 1441 gave the U.S. approval from the Security Council to enforce the Resolution(s), and two, the U.S. is a sovereign nation and doesn't need U.N. approval to defend it's self.

Pope John Paul was a great Pope. Age does take it's toll.

5.56mm

[Clara Lou]

How can a man who's lived as long as he has and experienced as much as he has be so näive?

[Lazamataz]

The world needs a "new international order" to solve its conflicts and ensure peace, Pope John Paul said in his New Year's Day address on Thursday. The ghosts of 2003 -- when the United States invaded Iraq without United Nations approval -- dominated the pope's first speech of 2004.

I thought the murmurings of the Pope's senility were overblown.

Apparently not.

[TwilightDog]

Maybe it should be interpreted allegorically, than pretend he said something else altogether.

[G.Mason]

"I am 73, exMarine, and just as tough as I have always been......."

I am in complete agreement with you.

I'm 63, and though not as tough as I used to be, I still have the same values that I was brought up with. IE: Family, God, and Country.

The United States of America first and foremost.

To hell with these "one worlders"!

[Dr. Marten]

"Pope wants new international order to keep peace"

The words of a fool!

[the invisib1e hand]

I wouldn't believe anything that a major wire service said about the Pope or attributed to him or to 'the Vatican.' Even if the quotes and corrected on page 37 next week, what on earth was the entirecontext?

Maybe he was referring to the Kingdom of God, a New International Order that all Catholics are looking forward to.

[Desdemona]

I still don't trust Reuters.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that the UN is useless without American firepower. And it is approaching time for the charter to be revoked. Yes, we were acting truly under a UN resolution, but let's face it, we did it despite the rest of the world. Why messages from the Vatican ignore this fact is not answerable.

I think the pope is right about one thing - we can pray for peace. The job needs to be finished before peace comes, he must understand. People like Hussein, Hitler, Stalin, etc., will be with us forever and, unfortunately, it takes force to rid the world of their tyranny. That doesn't mean we can't pray for peace.

[Texican]

Dupenzz
My friend I am a "Former MARINE" and I agree with you. However you young fellows (only 73) do not have all of the smarts of us ("older" 79)former MARINES. While I think that the Pope is fine, he should tend to his flock and not to the world's military problems. I trust our President to be the leader of the free world as far as security is concerned not some "World police" department. Nice to see an "aged" former MARINE here also.

You have a nice day, and pull for USC to win the Rose Bowl.

Semper Fi and God Bless to you and yours. Tommie

[the invisib1e hand]

Even if the quotes and corrected on page 37 next week

should read: "Even if the quotes aren't corrected on page 37 next week".

And, finally, an 'international order' isn't necessarily a 'world government.' A realignment of idealogies away from socialist and communist dictatorships would be a new international order.

This echos what Bush Sr. was touting during his time.

[G.Mason]

"Perhaps it relates to a better perspective of the pain and suffering involved in war?"

A better perspective?

Perspective my eye.

Your child falls into the lake. You can't swim. Your "perspective" says you will drown if you jump in and try and save her.

You let her drown?

My friend, there are things much worse than death.

There are, also, things worth dying for.

[tomahawk]

I now consider the Pope a threat to our national security.

[G Larry]

Please go back and read the story again.
The Pope didn not say that the U.S. invaded without UN approval, that was Reuters.

[G.Mason]

"My mother taught me, 'if you can't say something good about a man say nothing at all."

Nothing."

Ouch!

Well done.