Only in North Korea and the Vatican the personality cult is still practiced. The death of Pope John Paul II would have been the proper framework for the mourning scenes worthy of the death of Kim Il Sung. However, in the case of the “Holy Father”, this liturgy is accompanied by the rhetoric similar to Saint Sulpice, typical of Catholicism. In this regard, in Los Angeles Times, former president Lech Walesa, thanked God for having given a Pope to Poland. He further stated that he owed it all to him and felt orphan now.
In the midst of the hagiographic flood, the editorial of Joseph Samaha in As Safir was conflicting. With talent and certain degree of pleasure for provocation, the Lebanese intellectual made a comparison between the two religious leaders whom their followers present as “fighters for freedom”: John Paul II and Osama Bin Laden. Both of them had the same pattern: Ronal Reagan; and the same opponent: the Soviets. John Paul II expelled them from Poland and Osama Bin Laden from Afghanistan. To carry out their mission, both men relied on the most reactionary forces of their religious community and fought against the reformists.
Following this line of refreshing reflection, Father Adolf Holl, suspended to divinis by cardinal Josef Ratzinger (recently elected Pope under the name of Benedict XVI), said in Die Presse that the conclave is arranged beforehand. As confirmed by the documents drafted by the Curia for the previous election, the cardinals receive a grading from the papal nuncios and the popes-to-be are carefully selected. The discussions are an illusion, just as the intervention of the Holy Spirit.

Serguei Markov, director of the Institute of Political Investigations of Moscow, commented in Gazeta SNG about the trip of the new Ukrainian president to the United States. Viktor Yushchenko firstly expressed his appreciation for making him a king. However, this alliance is fragile. For Washington, Ukraine is a pawn that weakens Russia, but Yushchenko will hesitate whether to make his protector happy to remain in power whatever the price might be or to serve his national interests.
The US Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow, for his part, stated in Moscow Times that his country needed a strong Russia. Hence, it was suggested to refute the analysis, widely disseminated by the Russian media, that Washington manipulated the colored revolutions to surround and weaken Russia. However, this statement was not pacifying at all: the diplomat indicated next what would be a “strong Russia” for him, that is, a country that was open to world trade and agreed to supply its hydrocarbon for the development of the United States.

The daily Finnish Turun Sanomat, the Estonian writer and politician Jaan Kaplinski indicated that what happens at this moment in Russia is not the return to Stalinism but rather an authoritarian improvement comparable to the one developed by Ataturk in Turkey at the beginning of the 20th century. Instead of feeling offended, it would be better to assist Russia to promote at the same time its recovery and civil liberties.
In an interview with RIA-Novosti on the eve of his arrival to Moscow, Argentinian vice-president, Daniel Scioli, emphasised on common views and how the two countries complement each other. Argentina and Russia recently experienced a severe economic crisis and both of them were able to recover. Argentina sells foodstuffs to Russia and purchases agricultural machinery and fertilizers. Russia, in particular, responds to the energetic needs and an equal association enables Buenos Aires to get rid of Washington’s protection.

Finally, in the Christian Science Monitor, colonel Austin Bay denounced the rigged elections in Zimbabwe and maintenance in power of Robert Mugabe. By considering that the United States had temporarily given up from triggering a colored revolution, he hoped that the election of a black Pope would clear the situation, as John Paul II did in the case of Poland.

Voltaire Network