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Maria1212
Guest
What a non-story! Why should the Pope rearrange his schedule around for a foreign diplomat? If she wants another meeting, she can request one!
Sincerely,
Maria1212
Sincerely,
Maria1212
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johnstown_johnn
Guest
There is a war going on in the Middle East. The foremost war ios Iraq because it draws the attention of the world, every day.
Condoleezza Rice (CR) is associated with the U.S.'s occupation and destruction of a government in Iraq. The world cannot look at CR and NOT be reminded of a war that is going on without a solution, at least, not after five years.
There is more and more enmity being built in that region on a daily basis. Other nations such as Poland, Britain and others have either withdrawn from it (War) or reduced their presence there markedly.
The Vatican is a quasi-State, it has embassies throughout the world and has a large voice in the world particularly when the Pope speaks.
Photo ops are omnipresent when heads of State or high-profile State personnages (CD) visit the Pope. There is no ignoring that CD represents U.S. policy regarding the War.
As a diplomatic move the Pope does wise in refusing to see anyone who represents a faction in this War be it from the U.S. or other nations in that “ring-of-fire.”
This is the prerogative of the Vatican. Would the Vatican receive anyone involved it could be used as a propaganda item as though the Vatican endorses one side or the other.
This is a wise move…the Church is first and foremost as far as the Holy Father is concerned. The Church is not into war, only peace.
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KathleenElsie
Guest
And your point is?
Look the Pope was not seeing anyone. I believe I read that he was working on a new book.
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KathleenElsie
Guest
We citizens of the USA can be rather demanding and expect others to bend to what we (USA) want. I find this rather arrogant and personally think the Pop has the right to his time off. After all the politicians and others take time off from the civil duties of state.
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rlg94086
Guest
The reason it was considered a story is because some people wanted to read Vatican disapproval into the fact that the Pope would not meet with Sec. Rice. The Vatican has confirmed that was not the case.
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rlg94086
Guest
Try to keep up John…the Vatican confirmed that it wasn’t a snub and that he would probably meet with Sec. Rice, if she makes a request during a time the Pope is at the Vatican (he was on vacation). He also met with President Bush recently.
It is wise of the Vatican to meet with people involved in this conflict, so they can help bring peace. It is not the Vatican’s mission to wall itself off from the world.
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Nordar
Guest
That is not what happened, The Pope was on VACATION!
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KathleenElsie
Guest
When will we Americans remember the world does not revolve around us?
Papa Benedict is not a young man. Bless him he did not want the job but took it as being what God wanted him to do. He needs his time off and this issue that Rice wanted to talk about was probably not something Papa could do anything about. It was a photo op that could be used as propaganda.
Papa Benedict is not a young man. Bless him he did not want the job but took it as being what God wanted him to do. He needs his time off and this issue that Rice wanted to talk about was probably not something Papa could do anything about. It was a photo op that could be used as propaganda.
po18guy
Well-known member
Test everything. Retain what is good.
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beckers
Guest
Well the orignal “vatican source” is being beating by another “vatican source”.
catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0705338.htm
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Benedict XVI declined to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during his August vacation, but Vatican officials said it should not be interpreted as a diplomatic snub.
“The only reason she wasn’t received was that she came during a period when the pope doesn’t receive anyone. It was a purely technical question of protocol,” an informed Vatican source told Catholic News Service Sept. 20.
The source said it was “absolutely not” the Vatican’s intention to rebuff Rice or signal disagreement with U.S. policy on the Middle East.
Rice was about to travel to the Middle East for diplomatic talks in early August when the request for a papal meeting was made. The pope was vacationing at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome.
Even as it declined the request, the source said, the Vatican made it clear that top officials of the Vatican’s Secretariat of State would be happy to meet with Rice at any time.
“So clearly there was no intent to send a negative signal,” the source said.
Rice instead ended up speaking by telephone with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, while he was visiting the United States in August.
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gnjsdad
Guest
OK. So we have dueling sources.
Bottom line – Rice asked for an audience. She was refused. As usual, the Vatican never burns its bridges with anyone. I’m sure in the future, she will get to see the Holy Father.
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rlg94086
Guest
We don’t have dueling sources. There was never a question that she was refused. No Vatican source has said it was anything other than the Pope’s holiday schedule. It isn’t a big deal.
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Nordar
Guest
Well it is a big deal to all those who seem to want to make it a big deal! However in reality He was just on Vacation! which is what I need
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rlg94086
Guest
I agree…and I need one too!Well it is a big deal to all those who seem to want to make it a big deal! However in reality He was just on Vacation! which is what I need
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