Pope Benedict XVI 'Refused Meeting With Condoleezza Rice

[Shammu]

Pope Benedict XVI 'Refused Meeting With Condoleezza Rice
     

One of Italy’s leading newspapers has called the refusal of a recent request by Condoleezza Rice to discuss the Middle East and Iraq with Pope Benedict XVI an evident snub by the Vatican towards the current US administration.

The US Secretary of State had to make do with a telephone conversation with the Vatican's number two, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, although senior Vatican sources say that it is normal for the Pope not to receive politicians during his annual holiday.

Others suspect two reasons for the Popes refusal, that the Bush administration had previously made it clear they were not interested in the views of the late Pope on the Iraqi invasion and the failure on behalf of the US to protect Iraqi Christians.

Pope Benedict XVI 'Refused Meeting With Condoleezza Rice

[Shammu]

I understand how influential the pope is, but seriously other than that I don't know why anyone would care what he has to say on the geopolitical standpoint. He's just some guy that, for some reason, people think is holy.

Whether we like it or not, many people respect the pope's approval or disapproval of specific international events, deals, does still carry a good deal of weight in some important places.