Pope Peace Plea at UN Would Not Change US Policy on Iraq

The pontiff has yet to make an official request to address the United Nations on the question of Iraq, U.N. sources told CNSNews.com.

However, as an outspoken advocate of the Catholic Church's traditional support of peace in the Middle East, the pope finds himself under increasing pressure from invasion opponents to act as their spokesman at the Security Council.


During a visit to Rome last week, the National Council of Churches USA asked the pope to come to New York to address the Security Council and convey his opposition to war.

Cardinal Pio Laghi, a Vatican envoy, is currently on his way to Washington to deliver a personal letter from the pope to President Bush. The question of a personal address was brought up in talks two weeks ago between the pope and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, the Vatican reported.

In addition to the pope, Archbishop Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and the U.S. Catholic Bishops have all denounced Bush's plans to attack Iraq.

Catholic theologians have argued that a proposed American attack on Iraq is motivated in large part by political and economic reasons rather than military necessity. Therefore, the Bush argument of preventive war could not be considered defensive, they said.

John Zogby, an independent pollster, said a papal plea for peace would intensify and strengthen the opposition.

"It'll have a tremendous impact on the growing and highly intense anti-war movement worldwide. It will enhance the sense of moral imperative that the opposition feels," Zogby said.

'Catholic Vote' Not Relevant on Iraq

In the 2000 presidential election, Bush made significant gains among U.S. Catholic voters. After Republican presidential candidates trailed their Democratic opponents by double digits in the 1990s, Bush almost drew even with his Democratic rival, winning 47 percent of the Catholic vote as opposed to Al Gore's 49 percent.

But on the Iraq issue, Catholics are not likely to vote as a bloc, Zogby said.

"There really isn't a 'Catholic vote' anymore," he said.

However, "at some point, the president is going to have to recognize that there are some pretty powerful numbers worldwide and in the U.S. who are not in favor of this," he added.

Jack Spencer, a national security analyst with the Heritage Foundation, said an address by the pope at the Security Council would have little impact on Bush administration decisions. It is also unlikely to change the minds of Catholics, he said.

"If there are Catholics out there who support enforcing the U.N. resolution in disarming Saddam Hussein, they're going to support that regardless," Spencer said.

"I'm sure [the pope] would speak in the strongest terms to convince Saddam Hussein to fully cooperate with the international community," he added.

Indeed, the only one who can bring peace is Saddam Hussein himself, Spencer said.

"Yet I think each action he takes that is clearly deceptive in terms of the resolution is one more action that takes away his own support around the world," Spencer said.

If the 82-year-old pontiff addresses the Security Council, he likely will repeat the church's position that a pre-emptive strike against Iraq could not be considered "just" and that war should be considered only as a last resort, analysts said.

"[W]ar cannot be decided upon, even when it is a matter of ensuring the common good, except as the very last option and in accordance with very strict conditions, without ignoring the consequences for the civilian population both during and after the military operations," the pope said in January, citing the U.N. Charter and international laws.

"[War] is always a defeat for humanity," he said.

The Holy Father addressed the United Nations twice since he became pope; in October 1979 and in October 1995. A previous pontiff, Paul VI, addressed the United Nations in 1965.

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