Pope Snubs Bush Administration

Seems the Pope, conservative though he is, is not too happy with the Bush Administration. Seems when Condaleezza Rice recently requested a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI to discuss the Middle East, her request was turned down. Officially it is all a matter of protocol. The Pope doesnt "normally" receive politicians while on vacation. But the move has widely been seen as a snub. Why would a quite conservative Pope snubs the Bush Administration? Two reasons are being put forward. From BBC News:

First, it was Ms Rice who just before the outbreak of the Iraq war in March 2003 made it clear to a special papal envoy sent from Rome, Cardinal Pio Laghi, that the Bush administration was not interested in the views of the late Pope on the immorality of launching its planned military offensive.

Secondly, the US has responded in a manner considered unacceptable at the Vatican to the protection of the rights of Iraqi Christians under the new Iraqi constitution.

The Bush administration has told the Vatican that as coalition forces have not succeeded in securing the whole territory of Iraq, they are unable to protect non-Muslims.

Instead of meeting the Pope, Ms Rice had to make do with a telephone conversation with the Vatican's number two, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was visiting the US during August on other business.

Seems Bush and Rice manage to piss everyone off with their unilateral actions and miserable foreign policy failures.

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