Pope Says Self-Defence Right Against Terror

VATICAN CITY, Tuesday - Pope John Paul, in his clearest words ever on terrorism, said yesterday that while the international community had a right to defend itself against attacks, an entire nation could not be singled out for blame. In his message for the Catholic Church’s World Day of Peace, he also condemned as a “patent falsehood” claims by terrorist groups that they act on behalf of the poor and the oppressed. But he said despite the enormous difficulty, the long-term moral and social order devastated by the “horrific violence” of terrorism could be restored only through forgiveness, not by rage. He condemned the “death wish that feeds” terrorists, saying it sprang from hatred and “fanatic fundamentalism” which sometimes falsely tried to carry out crimes in God’s name. Reuter Ends