BBC reports that the Pope has given Condoleeze Rice the cold shoulder, refusing her recent request for a meeting to discuss the Middle East and Iraq.
Pope Benedict XVI is said to be miffed with the Bush regime. Apparently Rice and Bush snubbed a papal envoy sent from Rome prior to the invasion of Iraq saying they weren't interested in the views of the late pope about the immorality of their planned war. The Vatican is also displeased at the Americans' failure to protect Iraq Christians.
Instead of a sit down chin wag with the Big Hat, Rice had to settle for a phone call with his number two guy, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
You know, the list of things over which I disagree with the Pope is longer than my arm. However, on issues of war and peace I've got to hand it to the Vatican. They're usually pretty consistent, and this is one instance where the Church's constitency (what in other arenas might be called intransigence or strubborness) is, imho, a very good thing!
ReplyDeleteCredit where credit is due. Good for the Pope.