New Page 1

"We believe that a spiritual solution is required to peacefully resolve the current political situation in Iraq, and we believe that the presence in Iraq of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and other spiritual leaders from around the world, would certainly shift the current tide of war toward lasting peace. We humbly ask you to please consider this heartfelt request from a million Spiritual Peacemakers to take time from your schedule and travel to Baghdad. The lives of hundreds of thousands of people, and the hope of world peace, may lie in your hands."

VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II appealed for efforts by all to avert a "dramatic conflict" over Iraq (news - web sites) and urged the world's 1 billion Catholics to join him in fasting and prayers for peace on Ash Wednesday.

AP Photo

The pope, a staunch opponent of war in Iraq, said everyone must "assume their responsibilities and make common efforts to spare humanity another dramatic conflict."

Referring to his call for a day of prayer and fasting, the pope said that by "conversion of heart, penance and solidarity, we will become true peacemakers, both in our own families and in the world."

The pope spoke at his weekly public audience at the Vatican (news - web sites) a few hours before his envoy, Cardinal Pio Laghi, was scheduled to meet with President Bush (news - web sites) at the White House. Laghi, a former papal ambassador to Washington, is an old friend of the Bush family.

Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer (news - web sites) said the president rejects the Vatican argument that a war with Iraq has no moral justification, but that Bush would listen carefully to what Laghi had to say. The White House, aware of the voting power represented by the 65 million Catholics in the United States, has been trying to show it is paying attention to the Vatican's concerns.

Beyond fears for innocent victims of warfare, the Vatican is worried that a U.S.-led military attack would be seen by Muslims as a crusade by the Christian world against them, worsening relations between the religions. John Paul has said that war would be a "defeat for humanity."

Italian media have reported that the pope is so distressed by the prospect of war that he told U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) during their meeting here last month he would journey to New York to address the United Nations (news - web sites) if all other diplomatic measures fail.

The pope has met with three staunch Bush backers — prime ministers Tony Blair (news - web sites) of Britain, Jose Maria Aznar of Spain and, on Tuesday, Silvio Berlusconi of Italy. He has also sent an envoy to meet Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) in Baghdad.

The call to fast has caught on in Italy, where public opinion is heavily against a war. Italian politicians from conservatives to former Communists said they would fast for peace.

Liliana Coppola, a 60-year-old housewife from Rome, said she was fasting for peace.

"Until now I haven't eaten, but I don't know how long I'll hold out," she said. "It's one last effort from the pope. I don't know what will happen, but I admire him for trying."

Roberta Zanchi, a 56-year-old who flew a rainbow anti-war flag in front of her art store, said she wanted peace but didn't think the fasts would do much good.

"Sometimes the pope can influence the international situation," she said. "But in this case, I don't think he has much of an impact on America."

Also Wednesday, a few dozen activists unfurled a vast rainbow peace flag at the edge of St. Peter's Square, lightly fluttering the symbol while calling out anti-war slogans.