The Hindu : Pope's call for reconciliation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 08, 2003

International

International

Pope's call for reconciliation

OSIJEK (Croatia): Pope John Paul II brought a message of reconciliation on Saturday to a corner of Croatia still embittered by conflict in the 1990s. The 83-year-old Pope, midway through a strength-sapping 100th foreign pilgrimage, also was reaching out to leaders of the Orthodox Church as part of his efforts to thaw a millennium of mutual distrust between the two major branches of Christianity. Temperatures that reached 38 degrees centigrade took their toll on many of the 200,000-plus pilgrims. At least two people died of heart attacks, and dozens of others fainted. The Pope urged the people in the city of Osijek — which saw some of the most vicious fighting in the country's 1991 war — to help bridge the post-war rift. "After the trying times of the war, which has left the people of this region with deep wounds not yet completely healed, a commitment to reconciliation, solidarity and social justice calls for courage on the part of individuals inspired by faith," he said.

— AP

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