Pope Condemns Nuclear Weapons, Terrorism

Pope Benedict XVI yesterday addressed terrorism and nuclear disarmament in the annual papal message for peace, the New York Times reported (see GSN, Nov. 1, 2004).

Nuclear disarmament has become “bogged down,” Benedict wrote. He said the notion that nuclear arsenals keep countries secure “is not only baneful but also completely fallacious” (see GSN, Dec. 8).

“In a nuclear war, there would be no victors, only victims,” he said.

He also alluded to Iran’s nuclear program, according to the Times, referring to countries that “openly or secretly possess nuclear arms” along with “those planning to acquire them.”

Benedict called terrorism a fatal mix of nihilism and fundamentalism.

“The nihilist denies the very existence of truth, while the fundamentalist claims to be able to impose it by force,” he wrote. “Despite their different origins and cultural backgrounds, both show a dangerous contempt for human beings and human life, and ultimately for God himself” (Ian Fisher, New York Times, Dec. 14).

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