Pope Benedict avoids meeting with Iran’s President Ahmadinejad
Imprimir Incrementar tamaño de fuente Disminuir tamaño de fuente

Rome, Italy, Jun 2, 2008 / 10:50 pm (CNA).- Pope Benedict XVI has reportedly canceled meetings with seven world leaders to avoid encountering Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Forty heads of state, including Ahmadinejad, will arrive in Rome on Tuesday for a United Nations summit on the global food crisis.  The meeting comes as soaring food prices have pushed at least 22 countries to the brink of catastrophe.

The Telegraph reports that Pope Benedict wished to avoid the publicity that would have accompanied a one-on-one meeting with the Iranian president.

President Ahmadinejad was reportedly eager to meet with Pope Benedict.

The Vatican reportedly considered a single audience for all the heads of state, but decided to refuse all requests to avoid any potential embarrassment.  The presidents of Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia, as well as several African leaders, had asked for a papal meeting.

According to the Telegraph, Iranian spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham confirmed that the Vatican had refused all meetings, adding that Iran had never formally requested a meeting.

Another controversy-causing person who will reportedly be in attendance is Robert Mugabe. The leader of Zimbabwe has presided over the devastation of the economy that was once known as the “bread basket of Africa.” The embattled president is able to attend the summit because it is being held under the auspices of the U.N., which makes his status as a persona non grata in the EU not applicable.

Imprimir Incrementar tamaño de fuente Disminuir tamaño de fuente
Subscriber comments:
Published by: Joe
USA 06/06/2008 02:31 PM EST
Today's fanaticism is the same at the violent who lived while Jesus dwelt among us. They mistakenly thought that violence would bring about the Messiah and that the Messiah would be about violence. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is about Mercy.
Rate this comment:
Published by: Brian
Indianapolis, IN, USA 06/03/2008 06:00 PM EST
Those who don't live the Gospel...would that include Neo-Nazi skinheads, Klansmen, right-wing eugenicists, and anti-semites as well? Yes, I'd say so.
Rate this comment:
Published by: Gabriel Austin
Los Alamos NM USA 06/03/2008 12:57 PM EST
You should do a better job of checking your sources. The Vatican Press Office denies that the Holy Father had any intention of meeting the President of Iran, or any other of the heads of state.
Rate this comment:
Published by: Jeff Johnson
Collegeville, Mn 06/03/2008 09:40 AM EST
Pope John Paul II claimed in the late 1970's that we have arrived at the time in history when those who live the Gospel will be confronted by those who don't. Iran's President could not be more anti-Christ, and nothing good would have come from this meeting.
Rate this comment:
ADD A COMMENT (Your e-mail will NOT be published):
NAME:
CITY/STATE/COUNTRY:
EMAIL:
COMMENT:
 
PLEASE ENTER THE SECURITY CODE DISPLAYED ABOVE:
Chars:
* Thanks for your comments. The number of messages that can be online is limited. Length should not exceed 1500 characters. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages.
ADVERTISING
Place your ad here
Resources:
Columns:
News:
Documents:
Tools:
ACI Group:
ACI Prensa