Pope Urges End to Mideast Wars, Terror

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/6/17/124057.shtml?s=os

Pope Urges End to Mideast Wars, Terror

NewsMax.com Wires Sunday, June 17, 2007

ASSISI, Italy -- Pope Benedict on Sunday made one of his strongest peace

appeals, calling for an end to all wars and saying the people of the Middle

East have had enough of "the horrors of combat, terrorism and blind

violence."

The Pope made his appeal at the birthplace of Francis of Assisi, the saint

who is a symbol of peace and also the Catholic Church's patron of animals

and the environment.

"I consider it my duty to launch from here a pressing and heartfelt appeal

for a stop to all armed conflicts that bloody the earth," he said after

celebrating an outdoor mass in front of the pink stone basilica where the

saint is buried in a crypt.

"May weapons be silenced and may hate give way to love everywhere. May

offence give way to forgiveness and discord to unity," he said at the

mid-point of a day-long visit to one of Christianity's most visited and

venerated places.

It was Benedict's first visit to the hill town of Assisi, where his

predecessor John Paul held three historic meetings with representatives of

world religions, the last in 2002 after the September 11 attacks, to jointly

repudiate terrorism and the concept of religion as a justification of

violence.

Speaking to thousands of people in a small square in front of the basilica,

which has been completely restored after a ceiling partially collapsed in a

1997 earthquake, the Pope said he heard the cry of those suffering because

of war.

"Our thoughts turn in a particular way to the Holy Land, so loved by

Francis, to Iraq, Lebanon and the whole Middle East," Benedict said.

HORROR AFTER HORROR

"The populations of those countries have known for too long the horrors of

combat, of terrorism, of blind violence, of the illusion that force can

resolve conflicts, of the refusal to listen to the reasons of other people

and grant them justice," he said.

Dressed in green and white vestments, he called on the international

community to promote "responsible and sincere dialogue ... to put an end to

so much pain and give back life and dignity to persons, institutions and

populations."

The purpose of the Pope's visit was to mark the 800th anniversary of what is

known as the conversion of St Francis.

Francis, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant in Assisi, had lived a carefree

life as a soldier and playboy until one day while praying before a crucifix

in a ruined wayside chapel he heard a voice say "Go, Francis, and repair my

house."

He later gave up all worldly possessions and formed a fraternity to help the

poor. Over the centuries it would become one Christianity's most important

religious orders.

Francis, who became known as "the little poor one of Assisi," died in 1226

and was declared a saint of the Roman Catholic Church two years later. He is

the saint perhaps most widely revered by non-Christians.

The Pope, who was later due to address young people, began his day by

praying in front of the same crucifix that is said to have spoken to St

Francis.

He also visited the so-called "upper basilica" decorated with Giotto's

famous frescoes of the life of Saint Francis and prayed before the saint's

tomb under the main altar.

One of the biggest cultures of terror is to be found in American

history (1622-2007). Why are we so suprised that others behave the

way they do when American history is replete with treachery and

deceit. A story about this has been placed on the internet at:

http://www.TheDragonOption.com

For more about American Terrorism, see this topic:

http://www.TheDragonOption.com/chapter2.html#topic06