Dec 26, 2002 3 min read

VATICAN CITY (AP) – War must and can be avoided even in a world made fearful by terrorism, Pope John Paul II insisted in a Christmas message that stepped up the Vatican’s campaign against a war in Iraq. “May humanity accept the Christmas message of peace!” he declared Wednesday.

Thousands of tourists and pilgrims stood in a light drizzle at St. Peter’s Square to hear the ailing pontiff deliver his annual Christmas Day message, “Urbi et Orbi” – Latin for “to the city and to the world.”

They screamed and clapped in delight when John Paul, wearing gold-colored robes, was driven in a white, open-topped vehicle through the square, past a life-size nativity creche and a towering Christmas tree.

The 82-year-old pontiff’s voice sometimes trembled and his words often slurred as he read his speech from the central steps of St. Peter’s basilica.

“From the cave of Bethlehem there rises today an urgent appeal to the world not to yield to mistrust, suspicion and discouragement, even though the tragic reality of terrorism feeds uncertainties and fears,” the pope said.

John Paul deplored the “senseless spiral of blind violence” in the Middle East and called on the world to “extinguish the ominous smoldering of a conflict which, with the joint efforts of all, can be avoided.”

Although he did not mention Iraq by name, the pope’s comments reflected the Vatican’s widely known opposition to U.S. plans for a possible attack on Iraq.

When a U.S.-led coalition prepared to invade Afghanistan last year in response to the Sept. 11 attacks,

Vatican officials said there was a moral right to defend the common good against terrorism.

But in recent weeks, the Vatican has said repeatedly that Catholic teaching does not consider “preventive” strikes a justification for taking up arms.

The Bush administration insists Iraq is harboring weapons of mass destruction, and he has been lobbying for international support for a possible attack.

The Vatican fears an unprovoked attack on Iraq could unleash an anti-Christian crusade in the Muslim world.

The pope’s remarks Wednesday recalled his words in 1991 after Iraq invaded Kuwait.

His comment then that “war is an adventure with no return” became a slogan of pacifists opposing the Persian Gulf War.

John Paul also used his Christmas message to express concern for Latin America, roiled by economic and social turmoil, and for Africa, plagued by “tragic internal conflicts” and famine.

Renovation work on the basilica’s central balcony forced the pope to break with tradition and deliver his Christmas message from the steps in the square.

Bowing to health problems and difficulties in walking, John Paul abandoned another Christmas Day tradition a few years ago. He no longer says midmorning Mass in the basilica, allowing him a few more hours of rest following his heavily attended celebration of midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

The pope, however, did manage one of his favorite Christmas traditions – wishing the world a joyous holiday in 63 languages.

His voice seemed to gain strength as cheers went up from pilgrims when they heard the greetings in their own languages, and he began joking with the crowd.

“John Paul II loves you!” he called out in English. He also bantered in Spanish to the delight of thousands of pilgrims from Spain and Latin America.