Tokyo (Fides Service) - Dear President Bush of the United States, we request you to withdraw from a planned invasion of Iraq". These were the simple words with which Catholic Bishop Goro Matsuura, auxiliary of Osaka, asked President Bush not to make war on Iraq. In his letter the Bishop voices sympathy for the victims of the terrorist attack on September 11, but he warns the President that "if a military action with Iraq is put into place anti-American sentiment would grow rapidly an d globally. There would also be a growth of conflicts throughout the world. These anticipated conditions are far from peace; hatred breeds hatred and violence breeds violence".
Recalling the many appeals for peace launched by Pope John Paul II, and the terrible suffering of the civilian population of Iraq in the case of an attack, the Bishop reminds the President that in many countries voices against war have been raised. The letter concludes: "We ask you and the political leaders of nations to evade this needless war and seek a peaceful solution to the problem together with the international community. We hope that you take leadership in the field of world poverty, because the resolution of that problem would lead to world peace".
PA (Fides Service 6/2/2003 EM lines 15 Words: 221)