DONE SIDING WITH SADDAM, HUH?:

The Pope to Allawi: build democracy (AsiaNews, 11/04/04)

The Pope offered his encouragement to Iraqi efforts to build democracy, in respect for ethnic and religious diversity, expressing the hope that “the Christian community will make its contribution” to this end. This is what John Paul would like for Iraq’s future, a hope that he expressed to Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, today at the Vatican. Allawi, who thanked the Pope, also met with Secretary of State Angelo Cardinal Sodano, and among other things, pledged, together with his entourage, support for the restoration of churches hit by terrorist attacks.

In his message, the Pope, who blessed Allawi and all Iraqis, assured his continued closeness to the people of Iraq, so sorely tried by the tragic suffering of recent years. “I pray,” John Paul II said, “for all the victims of terrorism and wanton violence, and for their families, and for all those who generously work for the reconstruction of your country.”

The Pope's opposition to the use of military force to do away with dictatorship is one of the few smirches on an otherwise brilliant human rights record.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 4, 2004 3:03 PM