BBC News Online: World: Europe

Pope calls for Balkan harmony

Pope John Paul II, on a brief visit to the former Yugoslav republic of Slovenia, has warned of the dangers of extreme nationalism in the Balkans.

Pointing out that it is possible for sincere patriots to live in harmony with other nationalities, he prayed for the victims of atrocities carried out by totalitarian regimes.

The Pope was addressing pilgrims at a ceremony to beatify a 19th century Slovene bishop, Anton Martin Slomsek.

Enthusiastic response

The Pope celebrated Mass before a crowd of over a 100,000 at a park near the Slovene city of Maribor.

Sounding cheerful despite his slurred speech - attributed to Parkinson's Disease - he got an enthusiastic welcome and the loudest applause when he roundly condemned what he called the cruel ethnic cleansing and extreme nationalism which he said had sadly scarred the Balkans.

He urged the crowds to emulate Bishop Slomsek, a promoter of Slovene culture and education under the Hapsburg Empire and who was proclaimed blessed, the first step to sainthood.

Slomsek, said the Pope, had proved it was possible to be a sincere patriot while still cooperating with people of other cultures, nationalities and faith.

Prayer

The Pope also prayed for the victims of totalitarianism and referred to a mass grave recently discovered near Maribor.

Although the Pope did not name names, the grave is widely assumed to be of people put to death by the Yugoslav communist regime after the end of the Second World War.

This has been Pope John Paul's 88th foreign trip and one of his shortest - lasting less than a day.

It marks the start of a strenuous schedule for the 79-year-old leader of the Catholic Church in the run-up to the new millennium.

He is due to go to India and Georgia in November, although it is still uncertain whether a controversial visit to Iraq in December will go ahead.

Relevant Stories

Pope warned against Iraq visit (02 Sep 99 | Middle East)
US attacks Pope's Iraq trip (27 Aug 99 | Middle East)
Pope plans millennium pilgrimage (29 Jun 99 | Middle East)

Internet Links

The Holy See
US State Government
CIA World Factbook - Iraq
Anton Martin Slomsek - information

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

In this section

Violence greets Clinton visit
Russian forces pound Grozny
EU fraud: a billion dollar bill
Next steps for peace
Cardinal may face loan-shark charges
Vodafone takeover battle heats up (From Business)
Trans-Turkish pipeline deal signed
French party seeks new leader
Jube tube debut
Athens riots for Clinton visit
UN envoy discusses Chechnya in Moscow
Solana new Western European Union chief
Moldova's PM-designate withdraws
Chechen government welcomes summit
In pictures: Clinton's violent welcome
Georgia protests over Russian 'attack'
UN chief: No Chechen 'catastrophe'
New arms control treaty for Europe
Mannesmann fights back (From Business)
EU fraud -- a billion-dollar bill
New moves in Spain's terror scandal
EU allows labelling of British beef
UN seeks more security in Chechnya
Athens riots for Clinton visit
Russia's media war over Chechnya
Homeless suffer as quake toll rises
Analysis: East-West relations must shift