Pope John Paul II has warned that the war in Iraq, already "a human tragedy," could become "a religious catastrophe" if it serves to set Christians and Muslims against each other

Christian Century, April 19, 2003

* Pope John Paul II has warned that the war in Iraq, already "a human tragedy," could become "a religious catastrophe" if it serves to set Christians and Muslims against each other. The 82-year-old Catholic pontiff issued the warning March 29 in an address to 36 bishops from predominantly Muslim Indonesia, where Catholics make up only 3.4 percent of the population.

"War must never be allowed to divide world religions," the pope said. He urged the bishops to work "at this unsettling moment" with "your own people, with those of other religious beliefs and with all men and women of goodwill in order to ensure understanding, cooperation and solidarity."