Vatican Diplomats Will Remain in Baghdad in Event of War

VATICAN, Mar 14, 03 (CWNews.com) — The papal nuncio in Iraq will remain in Baghdad even in the event of war, the Holy See has announced.
“It is a time-honored tradition of the Holy See that its diplomatic representatives remain close to the population to whom they have been sent, even in situations of extreme danger,” said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls in a March 14 announcement.

The apostolic nuncio in Iraq, Archbishop Fernando Filoni, will remain at work, along with his staff, although many other diplomats are leaving Baghdad. In 1991, during the Gulf War, Vatican diplomats were virtually alone in their decision to remain in Iraq.