http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1232050,00.htmlBush takes a tongue-lashing from the Pope over Iraq
John Hooper in Rome and John Aglionby in Singapore Saturday June 5, 2004 The Guardian
The Pope yesterday subjected George Bush to a very public, relentlessly critical assessment of the US administration's performance in Iraq, attacking "deplorable" abuses of prisoners and calling for an international solution to the country's crisis.
During the president's visit to the Vatican, which the administration had hoped would help him win Catholic votes in November's presidential election, the Pope warned Mr Bush he would never succeed in the war on terrorism if he failed to ensure respect for basic human rights.
And he urged him to involve the United Nations in an operation for the swift return of sovereignty to Iraq.
In a clear reference to the prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib jail, the pontiff said: "In the past few weeks _ deplorable events have come to light which have troubled the civic and religious conscience of all and made more difficult a serene and resolute commitment to shared human values.
"In the absence of such a commitment, neither war nor terrorism will ever be overcome." <snip>