Pope John Paul prayed for the Iraqi people on Wednesday and said he shared the pain of kidnap victims and people hit by “the blind barbarism of terrorism.”
“I keep the dear Iraqi population in my prayers every day, people who are intent on rebuilding their own country’s institutions,” he told pilgrims and tourists at his weekly general audience.
The Pope was a vocal opponent of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and just two days ago the Vatican issued a paper attacking the idea of preventive wars if there is no “clear proof” of an imminent attack.
The 84-year-old Pontiff, who has Parkinson’s disease, appeared in relatively good health before a large crowd in a rain-drenched St. Peter’s Square.
He said he shared the pain of the relatives of kidnap victims and “the suffering of hostages and of all the innocents hit by the blind barbarism of terrorism.”
Scores of foreign hostages have been seized in Iraq this year. Many have been released but at least 37 have been killed by their captors. It is believed kidnappers are currently holding more than 20 foreigners.