Pope John Paul II held a private audience Saturday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair offering the Vatican an opportunity to voice its strong opposition to a possible war against Iraq. The Vatican described the meeting as a "cordial," 30-minute conversation, adding that Blair also held talks with other top Vatican officials. "The Holy Father expressed hope that, in solving the grave situation in Iraq, every effort is made to avoid new divisions in the world," Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a statement. British diplomats offered no details about the meetings and said Blair would not be available for comment because it was a private meeting. Vatican officials stressed the need to resolve the crisis through the United Nations and "to avert the tragedy of a war that is judged to be still avoidable by more sides," the statement said. "Special consideration was given to the humanitarian situation of the Iraqi people, already tried greatly by long years of embargo," the Vatican said. John Paul has strongly argued that military action would be a "defeat for humanity," and he has spoken out against economic embargoes.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!