Papal reaction: In its first reaction to the outbreak of war in Iraq, the Vatican yesterday argued that both the Iraqi and US governments bore responsibility for the conflagration.
A communiqué from the senior Vatican spokesman, Dr Joaquin Navarro-Valls, spoke of the "profound pain" prompted by the "turn of events".
It added: "On the one hand, the Holy See regrets that the Iraqi government did not abide by United Nations resolutions, nor give heed to the Pope's appeal, both calling for the country to be disarmed. On the other hand, it deplores the fact that the path of diplomatic initiative, in accordance with international law and aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the Iraqi drama, has been abandoned."
The brief Vatican statement went out to express its "satisfaction" that Catholic Church institutions in Iraq continue to go about their business, offering "help to the Iraqi people".
Furthermore, the statement pointed out that the Papal Nunciature in Baghdad would remain open whilst the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Fernando Filoni, will remain at his post.
Throughout the last four months, the Vatican has engaged ia vigorous diplomatic campaign, aimed at avoiding war in Iraq. Not only did Pope John Paul II issue a series of stern condemnations of a possible US-led military intervention, but he also sent senior emissaries to both Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and to President Bush.
Yesterday those two emissaries, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, who visited Baghdad, and Cardinal Pio Laghi, who travelled to Washington, both expressed their concern at the outbreak of war: "I don't think that our diplomatic initiative was in vain, those were efforts that will remain in the conscience of the international community.
"Until now, history has spoken to us about two World Wars. The one that has started today may prove to be a third one because a conflagration such as this affects the entire world, not just Iraq or the Middle East. I extend my solidarity and the fraternal solidarity of all Churches to the Iraqi people, whose sufferings I witnessed at first hand", commented Cardinal Etchegaray.
"The Pope played his cards, all his cards, with a steady determined hand", said Cardinal Laghi.