Afghanistan was freed from the Taliban regime, but many innocent people were killed. It did not take long to find out that the war machine was no longer able to stop, or rather that people no longer wanted to stop it.
It was then that Karol Wojtyła, although at an advanced age, tired and sick, engaged in probably the most painful and difficult phase of his efforts for peace. He went out into the world, as far as Azerbaijan, to speak out against violence, against “war in the name of God”. He sent his representatives to Iraq and America and met with heads of state and politicians to stave off this absurd war. A war that has been labeled “preventive” but which, in fact, conducted in this way, would be one-sided, and therefore unlawful and immoral.
On Saturday, March 15, 2003, the Holy Father, accompanied by Cardinal Sodano and Archbishop Taurus, during an audience met with Cardinal Pio Laghi, who had just returned from his mission in the United States. Laghi, although he did not think that all opportunities were already lost, conveyed the words of the American president. Bush understood the Pope’s moral objections very well, but unfortunately he could not back down. He gave Saddam Hussein an ultimatum of forty-eight hours. (…) The text of the Angelus prayer for the next day was prepared right after this meeting of March 15th. It contained a sad yet firm appeal to both Saddam Hussein and the countries that were members of the UN Security Council. Reading it in the window, the Holy Father seemed to maintain the last, faint hope, still noticeable in the world. He repeated three times: “There is still a chance!”, “It’s never too late!”
Apparently, however, he did not think that this cry was enough. He intuitively understood that – in addition to a glimmer of hope – the situation was getting out of control and everything was heading for the outbreak of a war that could take the form of a war of civilizations or, worse, a “holy war.”
With the consent of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz – “Testimony”.
TBA marketing communication Publishing House. Warsaw 2007
