JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: In the midst of the crisis, if you want to call it that, after the September 11th attacks, Pope John Paul II raised some eyebrows when he decided to go ahead with a planned visit to Kazakhstan, a country very close to Afghanistan. CNN's Jim Bittermann joining us on the telephone from Ostana (ph), which is the capital of Kazakhstan. Jim, an interesting statement today from The Vatican.</s>JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Judy, a couple of interesting statements. In fact, Pope John Paul II announced in the clearest terms yet, those who use Islam to justice murderous attacks. Recalling errors of the recent past, John Paul said, "All believers should unite so that God is never held hostage to ambition." And he added that hatred, fanaticism and terrorism profane the name of God. And at the same time, on the question of what to do about terrorists, Vatican officials seem to lend support to the American intention to bring terrorists to justice. According to the papal spokesman Joaqin Navarro (ph), although The Vatican would prefer a nonviolent approach, but understands it if Washington used force. You have the right, he was quoted as saying, to use self-defense, even though its means may be aggressive. Now it should be added that basically what he was doing is restating a fairly basic Catholic doctrine about self-defense. On the other hand, the timing and context gave it a much-added significance.</s>WOODRUFF: All right, Jim Bittermann just joining for that moment, on the telephone. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
America's New War: Pope John Paul II Raises Eyebrows When He Decided to Go Ahead with Planned Visit to Kazakhstan