Hi, Pauline - this Google search (click) will bring up a number of articles about John Paul II and his oopposition to the Iraq War, and to war in general. This article covers the subject well, and this one says he spoke against the previous Gulf War 56 times. This AP article is current, and discusses the relationship between the Pope and U.S. Presidents.

I may have disagreed with John Paul II about a number of things, but not on his positions on social justice issues. He opposed capital punishment, nuclear weapons, and most warfare. He also showed a great deal of concern for the poor of the world.

This article says that early as 1979, John Paul II call for the IRA to end its cycle of violence in Ireland - and so-called Catholics of the IRA issued a statement in defiance of his plea.

-Joe Offer-