Pope assures Italian bishops of his prayers for hostages in Iraq

Published: 2004-05-20

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II lamented the continued violence and violation of human rights in Iraq and said his prayers were with those who were still being held hostage there. "Terrorism, acts of war, human rights violations, which make the international situation very difficult and dangerous, all weigh heavily on our hearts," the pope said May 20 in an address to Italian bishops in the Vatican. "I continue to add my prayers to yours, especially for those who are being held hostage in Iraq, for those who are risking their lives, and for those who lost their lives while fulfilling their duties," he said. The pope's words came on the day family and friends gathered in northern Italy for the funeral of an Italian soldier killed May 17 in An Nasiriyah. His death was the 20th for Italian forces; 19 were killed in November in a suicide truck-bomb attack in An Nasiriyah. Bishops from all over Italy were in Rome for the May 17-21 general assembly of their national bishops' conference.

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