In the name of allah:
cbc.ca
Pope undeterred by death threats in Croatia
Last Updated Sun, 08 Jun 2003 18:56:38
RIJEKA, CROATIA - Pope John Paul II continued his tour of Croatia on Sunday despite receiving death threats the day before.
Pope John Paul II
More than 100,000 people withstood the searing heat to attend an open-air mass in the Adriatic city of Rijeka.
The Pope encouraged reconciliation between Catholic Croats and Orthodox Serbs, who have fought bitterly over the years.
The Pope, 83, fared well despite suffering from Parkinson's disease and serious knee and hip ailments.
However, at least two people at the mass died of heart attacks. Dozens of others fainted.
On Saturday, local news agencies said they had received e-mails threatening to kill the Pope "in the name of Allah." The messages were signed by the Islamic Front of el-Mujahadeen.
Government officials believe the messages came from neighbouring Bosnia.
The Pope's spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, downplayed the threats. He said the Pope had received similar threats in the past.
A Turkish militant shot the Pope in 1981.
This trip to Croatia is the Pope's 100th foreign pilgrimmage. He's visiting five cities in five days.
Written by CBC News Online staff |
