The Pope to Allawi: build democracy
Vatican City (AsiaNews) 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." In the Pope's words, "I wish to encourage the efforts made by the Iraqi people to establish democratic institutions which will be truly representative and committed to defending the rights of all, in complete respect for the ethnic and religious diversity which has always been a source of enrichment for your country. I am confident," he added, "that the Christian community, present in Iraq from apostolic times, will make its own contribution to the growth of democracy and the building of a future of peace in the region."
The private meeting between the Pope and the Vatican premier lasted just less than 10 minutes, after which they were joined by the 8 members of Allawi's entourage, among which figured Allawi's wife, Thana, the Minister of Development, Mehdi Hahedh and that of Human Rights, Bakhtiar Amin, and the newly-accredited Iraqi ambassador to the Holy See, Albert Yelda, a Christian.
Subsequent meetings with Cardinal Sodano and the Vatican's "foreign minister", Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, revolved around the same topics addressed by the Pope. According to a statement by Vatican spokesman, Joaquin Navarro, "various aspects of the situation in Iraq were looked at in detail, along with prospects for peace and reconciliation that can determine the healing of the deep wounds of the past, and consequential prospects for peace in the region. Attention was also given to the need to ensure full religious freedom and to the contribution that the Christian community can offer for the moral and material reconstruction of the country. The Prime Minister deplored the attacks suffered by several Christian churches, ensuring, on behalf of the Government, efforts to restore them." (FP)
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27/10/2004
