Faces of Integrity: Pope John Paul II

"Violence begets violence," he said. "War must always be considered a defeat: a defeat of reason and of humanity." He argued that world leaders should seek to root out the primary causes of terrorism, "especially misery, desperation and the emptiness in hearts." - "Pope Opposes Military Response to Terrorism", Sept. 8, 2004.

How many Catholics know that the Pope spoke out against war in general and against the Iraq war specifically in the last year of his holy life? That he made peace among nations one of the most consistent themes of his papacy?

Just before the illegal Iraq invasion, he made the following impassioned plea, ""NO TO WAR"! War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity. International law, honest dialogue, solidarity between States, the noble exercise of diplomacy: these are methods worthy of individuals and nations in resolving their differences....,

And what are we to say of the threat of a war which could strike the people of Iraq, the land of the Prophets, a people already sorely tried by more than twelve years of embargo? War is never just another means that one can choose to employ for settling differences between nations. As the Charter of the United Nations Organization and international law itself remind us, war cannot be decided upon, even when it is a matter of ensuring the common good, except as the very last option and in accordance with very strict conditions, without ignoring the consequences for the civilian population both during and after the military operations." - "Address to the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Vatican", Jan. 13, 2003.

Please pray that our Holy Father's longing for peace will bear abundant fruit as he enters the heavenly homeland. Let us hope that the voice that was so often muffled by media silence on earth will grow loud in the hearts of those who loved the Pope.