POPE TO SEND ENVOY TO US

Sky News ^ | 10:54 UK, Saturday March 01, 2003 | sky news

[colette_g]

POPE TO SEND ENVOY TO US

Pope John Paul will send a senior cardinal to Washington on a personal peace mission to try to avert a war in Iraq, the Vatican has said.

Cardinal Pio Laghi, for many years the Vatican's ambassador to the United States, will leave in the next few days, and will deliver a letter from the Pope to US President George W. Bush.

Last month the 82-year-old Pontiff sent a special envoy to Baghdad to try to persuade Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to co-operate with United Nations weapons inspectors.

More to follow...

[VaBthang4]

Who cares?

[colette_g]

I think its a definite indicator of how close action is.

[NetValue]

And how many Divisions does the Pope command?

If he was a true Catholic, he would deploy them against militant Islam!

[VaBthang4]

"I think its a definite indicator of how close action is."

ROTFLOL

[VaBthang4]

Just ribbin ya a bit. Seriously though...what the Pope does or doesnt do has zero impact on the War or it's timetable. Just more PC, Effeminate N"Euro"tic twaddling by wannabe{important}s.

[anniegetyourgun]

Vatican has no fax machines? Besides, as we know from the Word of God, this President needs no mediator between him and God, except Christ Jesus.

[colette_g]

No offense taken :-) It's all gonna happen soon - won't be soon enough for me

[wunderkind54]

Just wondering...does the Vatican have a seat on the U.N. Security Council??

[oceanperch]

Just goes to show that we don't all agree with the Pope.

I am very familiar with his physical disability but one has to wonder with his age and suffering what his mental agility is.

My God he can barely hold up his head to make eye contact. God Bless him if he is has no mental deficits.

The last time I saw him on Tv he had a mini float type of device for mobility. Just seeing him on tv not having interaction it comes across as a symbol being paraded around.

Sorry to say being Catholic I am not clear on the guidelines for a Pope to continue to lead the Church.

[oceanperch]

I was really impressed with what Rumsfield said to the press today about how "the press" seems to try and "report the news before it happens".
He said he refused to play that game.

So true.

[dennisw]

Oye vey!

[livius]

It would be nice if the Pope would come out and support freedom, democracy and, even once in a while, Christians.

He called Spanish Pres. Aznar in last week to give him a lecture on "following international law." Clearly, he meant that Aznar, Blair and Bush were not doing so. And Saddam is?

I'm a Catholic, too, and this stuff just makes me sick.

[Cautor]

I think there is little doubt the Pope is trying to follow Bill Krinton's example by using Iraw to "wag the dog" in an effort to keep attention off his own church's pedophilegate. I'm sick of these self-proclaimed "men of peace" who have given us so much war.

[Smile-n-Win]

It would be nice if the Pope would come out and support freedom, democracy and, even once in a while, Christians.

LOL...well said!

[NetValue]

Christianity as a force to counter the evils of Islam, has been undermined by the homosexuality of the Catholic clergy and the ensuing scandals. It happened during this Pope's tenure. He used to be called "the good shepherd" and "the keeper of the flock".....but I won't make any "sheep" jokes. Its too sad. This pope has little moral standing.

[Texan5]

I was beginning to wonder if my husband and I were the only Catholics who were concerned over the Pope's mental acuity. I agree with you that he doesn't seem to really "be here", so to speak. I remember hearing about the protocol for a Pope stepping down if he is unable to function in office, but it was way back when I was in college and I wasn't listening very carefully. Does anyone here have a fresh perspective on this issue?

I get the feeling that modern Popes are under some sort of edict to preach peace and send envoys-they have done it in every conflict that I can remember, starting with Viet Nam.

[scooby321]

How about sending someone to address your molesters in Church

[Int]

I think it's very dangerous to assume a person is deteriorating mentally just because he is no longer able to physically move properly.

As for a Papal "resignation" there are precedents.