Pope Calls For Peace

How often have we heard it? Every Easter, every Christmas, every suitable occasion the call goes out from the Vatican to the world leaders and the public to work toward, and pray for, peace. The message is carefully worded not to offend anyone, especially those who are most responsible for the atrocities that we all know too well. Who listens? Judging from the results so far, no one listens other than humble and pious folk who contribute their prayers.

There is an anecdote about Stalin. He was planning some strategy or other when one of his advisers asked him to consider what the Pope might have to say about it. His famous reply: "How many divisions has the Pope?" Indeed he has none and that's all that matters to Bush, Putin, Blair and the rest of them.