Concerning military action against Iraq

At a time when our thoughts and those of millions of Christians round the world turn naturally to peace and goodwill among peoples and nations, it is especially painful to be confronted with the grave reality of new hostilities and armed confrontation.

We have been in touch with the Government at various stages of the evolving crisis with Iraq, and have expressed concern for the safety of civilians, including Christian communities, who now find themselves caught up in a conflict which the leadership in Iraq has had the means to avoid.

Those civilian populations, facing new threats to the tenuous stability of their troubled region are very much in our prayers - prayers in which the safety of the men and women of our armed forces hold a special place.

No use of force can be undertaken lightly. With the approach of Ramadan, it is especially important that those in power have clear objectives and well-defined limits for the course of action on which they have embarked. The true aspiration of human endeavour, as we are called to remember at this Christmas season, must be to promote peace, justice and understanding.