Asymmetric Religion and Philosophy

In his meeting with Bush, the Vatican said the pope raised "the worrisome situation in Iraq."

"He was concerned that the society that was evolving would not tolerate the Christian religion," Bush explained at a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi during the president's swing through Europe.

"He's worrisome about the Christians inside Iraq being mistreated by the Muslim majority."

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Bush met with the prime minister several hours after his first sit-down with Benedict. Bush and Benedict appeared intent to look beyond their differences in Iraq.

The war was vigorously opposed by the late Pope John Paul II, and Benedict, in his Easter message, denounced the "continual slaughter" in Iraq and said that "nothing positive" is happening."

As much as I love Pope Benedict, in issues of international policy, the Church can now only act as a moral goal-setter and shouldn't be taken too seriously in political affairs. In other words, the Pope's general direction will always be towards protecting the Church, encouraging Christian morals, helping the unfortunate, and limiting conflict; but in how those goals are met, the Pope simply cannot be of much assistance.

Take Iraq. The Pope doesn't like the violence and the potential harm that may greet Christians, but what realistic alternative did the Pope present besides just not doing anything. What pragmatic, non-idealistic advice can he give now? The times when Popes could scheme politically and militarily with the best rulers of Europe are long gone, thank God.