Benedict XVI Ratzinger (1927- ), Pope of Rome and Patriarch of the West, the head of the Roman Catholic church
The Vatican believes that the plans of the USA to place elements of its anti-ballistic missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic threatens “international relations and retards the process of general disarmament”. This is covered in a front-page article in L’Osservatore Romano, the official newspaper of the Holy See, “The Principles of International Relations and Disarmament are Threatened”. Meanwhile, Benedict XVI, the Pope of Rome, expressed his apprehension in regards to the tension building between the West and Russia in connection with the Georgian invasion of South Ossetia. “With bitterness, we are forced to recognise the danger of further degeneration in the confidence and collaboration that should be normal in the relations between nations”, Pope Benedict said in his Sunday sermon at his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. He emphasised that “violence must be rejected” and he called all to negotiations [on the problem]. Previously, the Pope of Rome had called for an expeditious solution to the humanitarian crisis in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone. “I turn to the combatants and call for the urgent establishment of humanitarian corridors between South Ossetia and Georgia so that the dead can receive proper burial, the injured can receive medical aid, and so that people can reunify their families”, Benedict XVI declared.
25 August 2008
Interfax-Religion
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