Mugabe at the Vatican

**Mid** · 02-05-2011, 04:20 AM

Mugabe at the Vatican:
Nick Pisa
1st May 2011

Dictator beats EU travel ban to be among 1.5m watching Pope beatify his predecessor

Brutal dictator Robert Mugabe sidestepped a European travel ban to attend the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II at the Vatican yesterday.

The Zimbabwean president was able to join the crowd of 1.5million at the ceremony because the Vatican, while located in the Italian capital Rome, is a sovereign state and not part of the EU.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, who attended the ceremony, said Mugabe’s record on human rights was deplorable and ‘it felt uncomfortable to be in his presence’.

Controversy: Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace, yesterday at the beatification ceremony for the late Pope John Paul II at the Vatican

It was not the first time Mugabe, 87, who has driven his country to starvation while building up his own riches, has caused controversy by attending a Vatican function.

In 2005 the tyrant sat next to the Prince of Wales at Pope John Paul’s funeral and Charles was caught out having to shake hands with him.

After yesterday’s service, Archbishop Nichols said: ‘The Vatican has not broken off diplomatic relations with Zimbabwe and if [Mugabe] wants to attend and he is invited, then he can do so, but personally I found it uncomfortable.’

The three-hour ceremony was also attended by the Duke of Gloucester, on behalf of the Royal Family, several other European royals and 62 heads of state.

Pope Benedict XVI, who wore Pope John Paul’s robes and kissed a phial of his blood during the service, led the colourful spectacle of ritual, hymns and prayers in a sun-dappled St Peter’s Square.

The service began with a huge tapestry of Pope John Paul, who died aged 84 on April 2 2005, being unfurled from a balcony at St Peter’s to cheers from the vast crowd on the cobbles below as Pope Benedict announced the blessing.

Blessing: Pope Benedict XVI pictured arriving to lead the mass for the beatification of Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square

Vatican watchers said it was the first time a current pontiff had beatified, or declared blessed, his predecessor in a ceremony marking the initial stage in sainthood.

The process leading to sainthood usually begins five years after a candidate’s death, but Pope Benedict waived the rule for Pope John Paul.

The decision came after three million people attended his funeral in 2005, many carrying banners urging Pope Benedict to make him a ‘santo subito’, or saint immediately.

There has been criticism of the speeding up of the process, especially as many observers claim the Polish pontiff turned a blind eye to abuse by Catholic priests.

To be declared blessed, evidence of a miracle is needed and the one used in this case was that of French nun Sister Marie Simon-Pierre who was apparently cured of Parkinson’s after she prayed to Pope John Paul.

To proceed to the next step and full sainthood, evidence of a second miracle is needed and Vatican officials are ‘looking at several case studies’.

Security was tight at yesterday’s service, with marksmen at strategic points overlooking the packed square, helicopters buzzing overhead and plain-clothes police mingling with the crowd.

As part of the ceremony, Pope John Paul’s coffin was exhumed from the crypt below St Peter’s and taken to a chapel so pilgrims could see it.

Celebrations continue today with a thanksgiving mass at the Vatican.

Beatified: Pope John Paul II, who died in April 2005, was honoured in a ceremony marking the initial stage in sainthood yesterday

dailymail.co.uk

**Mid** · 02-05-2011, 04:21 AM

Hey Catholics ,

Get a Fokin Grip .

**dirtydog** · 02-05-2011, 04:25 AM

Originally Posted by Mid

kissed a phial of his blood during the service

Jees, as bad as the Thais, anyway nice to see mugabe attending such rituals.

**Mid** · 02-05-2011, 04:38 AM

ain't it just .

**dirtydog** · 02-05-2011, 04:42 AM

What the catholic church needs is tampons, used tampons, tonnes of them thrown over the crowds so they can join in this joyous occasion and also lick a bit of the saints blood, although with him being a bloke they really should think about voting in a female pope, this will catch on, believe me, the thais love this stuff and so will the catholics.

**shadow role** · 02-05-2011, 04:49 AM

always find it funny that the pope was ex Wermacht ,a deserter.Deserted in 1945...funnily enough figures for deserters exploded that year!

**Mid** · 02-05-2011, 05:44 AM

Pope Benedict XVI kisses the glass reliquary containing the blood of the late Pope John Paul II during his beatification mass in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican City, Rome.
Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

JHC

.

**Hampsha** · 02-05-2011, 05:45 AM

What the catholic church needs is tampons, used tampons, tonnes of them thrown over the crowds so they can join in this joyous occasion and also lick a bit of the saints blood, although with him being a bloke they really should think about voting in a female pope, this will catch on, believe me, the thais love this stuff and so will the catholics.

Yep. They could just have the popes save up their piss over the course of their reign and use it after their deaths to bless the crowds on their Golden Shower Jubilees.

**dirtydog** · 02-05-2011, 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by Mid

Pope Benedict XVI kisses the glass reliquary containing the blood of the late Pope John Paul II during his beatification mass in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican City, Rome.

Of course, when we start the td religion stuff aint gonna be no blood or used tampons, it will be more aimed at money donations, cash, just waiting for the lawyers to get back to us on this ever lasting life stuff.

**BobR** · 02-05-2011, 06:21 AM

Frightening thing is that I was a Catholic, and did not give it up until I was in my early 20's.

Pope John Paul was certainly better than that goof they have now, but a saint? Hardly, the tolerance and protection of pedo Priests (and church money) went on full tenure during most of his reign. I think the Catholic Church is doing this to divert attention away from their Worldwide pedo problems.

**Mid** · 02-05-2011, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by BobR

I was a Catholic

I'd be very interested to hear any current Catholics try to justify Mugabe .

**backinpd2007** · 02-05-2011, 06:24 AM

This upcoming TD religious thread sounds like a good idea. But it should start with
my latest gripe, Buddhism.

**Mid** · 02-05-2011, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by backinpd2007

This upcoming TD religious thread sounds like a good idea

Here ya go , fill ya boots

Religion, Philosophy and Metaphysics - TeakDoor.com - The Thailand Forum

**BobR** · 02-05-2011, 08:44 AM

Why hasn't he been given the Kadaffi tratment?

Nato or the USA could easily learn when his airplane leaves the ground and intercept it if they wanted to. If it's a private plane it could be shot down if it refused to land, and no commercial airline pilot would refuse an order to land.

**Butterfly** · 02-05-2011, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by BobR

I was a Catholic

I'd be very interested to hear any current Catholics try to justify Mugabe .

god, you are dumb beyond belief

**Mid** · 02-05-2011, 09:14 AM

expound on that if you can ?

**FlyFree** · 02-05-2011, 09:23 AM

^He can. It's unlikely to make any sense, but expound he can.

Don't encourage him.

**Mid** · 02-05-2011, 09:26 AM

Nah , it can't ,it's simply an empty vessel who has spent the morning chasing me round the board because it's still pissed at me for telling it off yesterday .

hell I've even got a revenge red from it .

**BobR** · 02-05-2011, 09:55 AM

"It is guestimated that since 1980 an overall total of 6 million Zimbabwean deaths are a direct result of misconduct by Mugabe's government."

Source: The Economist and BBC

Concerning my earlier comment about NATO/USA intercepting his airplane, letting him leave European airspace or make it home is the equivalent of having a clear shot at Hitler in 1941 and not taking it.

**Butterfly** · 02-05-2011, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Mid

expound on that if you can ?

man, you are seriously retarded, look at the stupidity of your question again. Absolutely brain dead.

Originally Posted by Mid

hell I've even got a revenge red from it

**Mid** · 02-05-2011, 11:57 AM

as expected you have absolutely nothing , you are an empty vessel butters and your continued holy than thou put downs of the locals simply reinforces mine and others attitude towards you .

at best you are a minor irritant .

**Ascotkiwi** · 02-05-2011, 01:33 PM

Dictator beats EU travel ban to be among 1.5m watching Pope beatify his predecessor

Brutal dictator Robert Mugabe sidestepped a European travel ban to attend the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II at the Vatican yesterday.

The Zimbabwean president was able to join the crowd of 1.5million at the ceremony because the Vatican, while located in the Italian capital Rome, is a sovereign state and not part of the EU.

Surely he had to fly into Rome - Italy - part of the EU. At that point he should have been told to piss off!

**Butterfly** · 02-05-2011, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by Mid

as expected you have absolutely nothing

the fact you need an explanation of your own stupidity is quite sad,

**Pol the Pot** · 02-05-2011, 02:26 PM

There is no travel ban on Mugabe. He can go where he wants to.

**Mid** · 02-05-2011, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Pol the Pot

There is no travel ban on Mugabe

Huh ?

The European Union on Tuesday removed 35 people from a list of Zimbabweans hit by a travel ban and asset freeze, citing progress made by Harare in delivering basic services to its citizens.

But the EU left 163 people and 31 businesses on the list, including President Robert Mugabe, and kept an arms embargo as it noted a lack of progress on the political front and a recent spike in political violence.

EU: Mugabe travel ban still in place - Africa - IOL | Breaking News | South Africa News | World News | Sport | Business | Entertainment | IOL.co.za

Thread: Mugabe at the Vatican

Thread Tools

Display

Mugabe at the Vatican

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions