US President George W. Bush had assumed "a grave responsibility before God" in deciding that diplomatic means to avoid conflict with Iraq had been exhausted, the Vatican said today.
"Whoever decides that all peaceful under international law have been exhausted is assuming a grave responsibility before God, his conscience and before history," Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said.
The Vatican was making an official response to Mr Bush's ultimatum giving Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein 48 hours to leave the country or face attack.
Pope John Paul II, one of the most prominent opponents of a war on Iraq, urged UN Security Council members on Sunday to continue talks on the disarmament of Iraq and avert a looming military conflict.
"I want to remind UN members and particularly those who make up the Security Council that the use of force is the last resort after having exhausted all peaceful solutions, as stipulated by the UN charter," the Pope told tens of thousands of worshippers gathered in St Peter's Square.
AFP