Pope to diplomats: Tsunamis, terror, violence cast shadow over 2004

Published: 2005-01-10

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The "enormous catastrophe" caused by the Dec. 26 tsunamis, terrorist acts in Iraq and Europe and continuing violence in Africa cast a shadow over the year 2004, Pope John Paul II said. While it would be easy to despair and fear for the future, he said, Christians must witness to hope and must rally all people of good will, "strengthening the common bonds of our humanity and ... making them prevail over all other considerations." Meeting the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See Jan. 10, Pope John Paul prayed for peace and prosperity around the world and made special appeals for the protection of human life, for efforts to reduce hunger, for an end to violence in the Middle East and Africa and for respect for religious freedom around the world. "The arrogance of power must be countered with reason, force with dialogue, pointed weapons with outstretched hands, evil with good," Pope John Paul said. The pope meets at the beginning of each year with the ambassadors from the 174 nations that have full diplomatic relations with the Vatican, as well as with special representatives from the Knights of Malta, Russia, the European Union and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

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