The Church and war in Iraq. (News in Brief: Vatican).

Vatican City--Over Christmas, Pope John Paul expressed deep concern over the impending threat of war in Iraq. In a December 22 meeting with members of the Roman Curia, the Pope declared that Christ weeps over the wars and terrorism that bloody the world. Recalling the Assisi interfaith peace gathering of January 2001, he promised that the Church would continue to speak out for peace and "raise her prayer."

In his Christmas address "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world), delivered to 20,000 people in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father asked believers of all religions to help end the "spiral of blind violence" in the Mideast, and to do it without yielding to discouragement in the face of terrorism and other fears.

While he did not refer to Iraq by name in the Christmas message, the Pope was more specific when he addressed Vatican ambassadors from 177 countries on January 12, 2003. "No to war!" he declared emphatically, "War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity." He then reminded the diplomats that international law maintains that war should be the very last option in resolving problems.

In an Italian newspaper interview on December 22, 2002, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican Secretary for Relations with states, had been equally forthright. He had already communicated to the U.S. government the Holy See's position that the international community should take action only if Saddam Hussein continues with an arms build-up. He condemned as "monstrous" a previous U.S. suggestion (February 2002), of using nuclear bombs as tactical weapons.

Noting that there was provision in the U.N. Charter for a preventive war, the Archbishop called upon Iraq's leaders "to regulate their political action" in accordance with U.N. codes of membership.

Bishops throughout the world have cautioned the United States in similar words (see C.I., November 2002, pp. 28-29). More recently other voices have been added.

Baghdad--In Iraq itself, Auxiliary Bishop Shlemon Warduni of the Patriarchate of Babylon of the Chaldeans has made an appeal for peace on behalf of his country. He called on all men of goodwill throughout the world to join the Pope in praying for peace. Speaking on behalf of ordinary Iraqis, the bishop declared that he did not understand why this war should be necessary. "Let them take the oil, but leave us in peace," he pleaded. The bishop's comments were broadcast January 9, 2003, on Vatican Radio.

Islamabad--Further east, in Islamabad, Archbishop Lawrence Saldhana, president of the three member Pakistan Bishops' Conference, called on the U.S. and Britain to reverse their decision to wage war on Iraq. Foreseeing disastrous consequences not only in Iraq but throughout the region, they also asked the Iraqis to participate in "an all-out effort to avoid war and prevent untold sufferings for millions of innocent people" (Jan 21/03).

Singapore--Catholic bishops in the Conference of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei have added their voices to the growing chorus of condemnation for any unilateral military action against Iraq. Like the others, they also call on Baghdad to remedy the situation by adhering to resolutions of the U.N. Security Council (Jan 19/03).

Wurzhurg--One of the most vocal opponents of President Bush's plans to invade Iraq has been German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. His views appear to be supported by a majority of Germans and by the Catholic Bishops' Conference.

The bishops admit that the Hussein regime is a threat to international order and they support the United Nations' efforts to disarm it. A "preventive war," however, they see as in contradiction to both Catholic teaching and international law; in the absence of a direct attack by Iraq, it represents an aggression and would not meet the criteria of a "just war." The German bishops also foresee, as a consequence of such a war, the risk of serious political disturbance in the Middle East (mainly on the part of Muslim fundamentalists) leading to an escalation of terrorist incidents.