The Holy See responds

On behalf of the Holy See I am writing to express, in the strongest possible terms, our protest at the publication in your daily newspaper of April 6, of an article entitled John Paul has blood on his hands, extremely libelous, untruthful and offensive of the august person of His Holiness Pope John Paul II.

Your decision to have published an article of this nature carrying more innuendo and subjective assumptions than truth, at this particular moment when the entire world is mourning the passing away of such a great religious leader as Pope John Paul II, is very poor in taste indeed. It offends the sensitivities of people of all religions, social groups and classes around the world who have loved and respected the Pope so much.

In fairness to truth, therefore, this Embassy requests you to tender an apology to your readers on this offensive publication.

ARCHBISHOP MALCOLM RANJITH, Ambassador of the Holy See, in Indonesia

Note:We would like to extend our sincerest apologies to the Embassy of the Holy See for the said article and for the insensitive timing of its publication. We apologize for any offense caused to our Catholic readers..

-- Editor