Social and Political Stances of Pope John Paul II - Iraq War

Iraq War

In 2003 John Paul II also became a prominent critic of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. In his 2003 State of the World address the Pope declared his opposition to the invasion by stating, "No to war! War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity." He sent former Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States Pío Cardinal Laghi to talk with American President George W. Bush to express opposition to the war. John Paul II said that it was up to the United Nations to solve the international conflict through diplomacy and that a unilateral aggression is a crime against peace and a violation of international law.

“Wars generally do not resolve the problems for which they are fought and therefore... prove ultimately futile.”

Read more about this topic:  Social And Political Stances Of Pope John Paul II

Famous quotes containing the word war:

    This people must cease to hold slaves, and to make war on Mexico, though it cost them their existence as a people.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)