VATICAN: Pope John Paul (83) said yesterday the world's hopes for peace seemed to have collapsed with the Twin Towers two years ago, and that the planet was mired more than ever in wars, injustice and terrorism.
He said too often governments were more concerned with military spending than development.
"In a few days we will be commemorating the tragic attack on the Twin Towers in New York," he said in a message to the annual meeting of the internationally renowned Catholic peace group Sant'Egidio. Sadly, it seemed that many hopes for peace collapsed along with the towers.
"Wars and conflicts continue to thrive and to poison the lives of so many people, particularly in the poorest countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America."
The Pope, who two years ago called September 11th one of the darkest days in history, said another type of war was now widespread - "the war known as terrorism".
In the message to Sant'Egidio, hosts of this year's meeting of religious leaders in Aachen, Germany, he said national and personal selfishness were often to blame for the lack of peace. "Too little has been invested in these years to defend peace and support the dreams of many for a world free of wars."