AFRICA: LIBYA: ARCHBISHOP CALLS ON JPII INTERCESSION FOR PEACE

Agenzia Fides REPORT - "This morning several people came to see me to report the fact that many places were bombed, causing civilian victims”, said Archbishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli to Fides "They hit Sirte, Zentani and Misurata. In this last place the fighting continues. I do not know who hit the civilians, but I know that the situation in Misurata is dramatic” said Bishop Martinelli. "I hope in the coming days, to be able to get to the hospital to visit the wounded”, added the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli.
"The bombs, as precise as the aim can be , lead to civilian victims. Bombs are immoral. I wonder also whether it is moral to kill a head of state. What right do we have to do so?” Says Bishop Martinelli, referring to attacks against the residence of Libyan leader Gheddafi. "Even the statement on behalf of the coalition countries that bomb Libya, who want to protect civilians from being attacked, does not correspond to the truth, because these bombings cause victims among civilians who they claim to want to protect. It is necessary first of all to cease-fire”, says the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli.
"We ask the intercession of John Paul II that can work miracles. I remember that it was this pope who opened diplomatic relations with Libya in 1997, when this country was under international embargo. I wanted to be in Rome for the beatification of this great Pope. But I am praying ceaselessly, because, through his intercession, may a peaceful solution to the crisis be found - said Bishop Martinelli -. Pope John Paul II taught us that tensions and conflicts must be resolved not with embargoes (and I would add, not with bombs ...), but through dialogue. This was his strong teaching. War cannot bring peace".

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