War Is Not Inevitable, Pope Tells Leaders

VATICAN CITY — In a passionate plea for peace, Pope John Paul II said Sunday that Iraq’s leaders had a duty to cooperate with the international community to avert war and told both sides there was still time to negotiate.

Departing at one point from his scripted address, he said that having lived through World War II, he felt duty-bound to tell the world: “Never again war.”

The pope aimed some of his comments at Iraqi leaders.

“To them, I direct my pressing appeal: The fate of your fellow countrymen must always be your priority,” he said.

“The political leaders in Baghdad have the urgent duty to collaborate fully with the international community, to eliminate any motive for an armed attack,” the pope told a large crowd in St. Peter’s Square.

“But I would also like to remind the member countries of the United Nations, especially those that make up the Security Council, that the use of force represents a last resort.

“That is why, faced with the tremendous consequences that an international military operation would have for the people of Iraq

The pope, 82, has thrown himself into a vigorous diplomatic campaign against the threatened attack. He has held talks with the British and Spanish prime ministers, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tarik Aziz and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

“The next few days will be decisive,” the pope said Sunday. “Let us pray to the Lord for the different players to have courage and farsightedness.”

The pope’s peace envoy on Iraq, Cardinal Pio Laghi, said, “Let’s hope the pope’s voice can reach God through the rather dark clouds which are gathering over this world today, so that he can make a miracle.”