Bush meets anti-war pope

2004-06-04 14:15

Vatican City - Pope John Paul II on Friday told US President George W. Bush that the situation in Iraq "be normalised as quickly as possible" with the help of the international community and the United Nations.

The pope told Bush his visit to Europe comes "at a moment of great concern for the continuing situation of grave unrest in the Middle East, both in Iraq and the Holy Land."

"It is the evident desire of everyone that this situation now be normalised as quickly as possible with the active participation of the international community and in particular, the United Nations Organisation, in order to ensure a speedy return of Iraq's sovereignty, in conditions of security for all its people."

John Paul II has been one of the staunchest critics of Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq.

The pope also made a veiled reference to recent revelations of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US troops in Iraq.

Deplorable events

"In the past few weeks other deplorable events have come to light which have troubled the civil and religious conscience of all, and made more difficult a serene and resolute commitment to shared human values."

He said that in the absence of such a commitment, "neither war nor terrorism will ever be overcome".

Bush, who described John Paul II as "a devoted servant of God who has championed the cause of the poor", presented the 84-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, his country's highest civilian award.

- AFP