Pope John Paul, has indicated he believes the United States should not expand its war on terrorism beyond Afghanistan, and urged people to push for peace and not pursue vendettas.
His comments come a day after he had urged the world to pull back from the brink of further conflict, apparently signalling his anxiety that once the Afghan war was over the United States would strike elsewhere.
"Dark clouds are gathering on the horizon. Humanity, which greeted the dawning of the third millennium with hope, now feels weighed down by the threat of new shocking conflicts. World peace is at risk", the Pope said in a speech on Saturday.
Significantly, no one in the Vatican hierarchy has so far used the word war to describe the U.S. strikes on Afghanistan, underscoring instead the argument for self-defence and importance of pre-empting further attacks.
However, commentators say the Pope is uncomfortable with this line and is worried the United States, enraged by the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, might soon decide to lash out at other Muslim countries such as Iraq.
He is also clearly concerned about the seemingly endless spiral of violence in the Middle East.
John Paul has felt like a lion in a cage since the start of the bombardment on Afghanistan and the escalation of the latest Middle East crisis, Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper said on Sunday.
The 81-year old Pontiff appealed on Sunday for Christians and Muslims to pray together and renewed his call for Roman Catholics to fast for peace along with Muslims on Friday, the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.