http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/26/world/main619785.shtml
(CBS/AP) As tens of thousands marched through Rome in protest, Pope John Paul II reminded President Bush on Friday of the Vatican’s opposition to the war in Iraq and said the world has been troubled by recent “deplorable events,” an apparent reference to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops.
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“It is the evident desire of everyone that this situation now be normalized as quickly as possible with the active participation of the international community and, in particular, the United Nations organization, in order to ensure a speedy return of Iraq’s sovereignty, in conditions of security for all its people,” said the pope, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease.
Outside, at least 25,000 people marched to protest the war. Cobblestone alleys were sealed off to prevent any violent protesters from breaking away from the march and rushing upon some of the 10,000 police deployed along the march route.