War IN BRIEF : VATICAN : Pope Rejects Idea of ‘Peace at Any Cost’

Pope John Paul II, distancing himself from Italian leftists and pacifists who have used his peace appeals for their campaign against the Gulf War, said in off-the-cuff remarks at a Rome parish: “We are not pacifists. We don’t want peace at any cost.” Later, during noon remarks from his balcony above St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, he said Catholics around the world should pray for “the gift of peace in justice” during Lent--the 40-day period of fasting and penitence before Easter. By justice, the Pope meant respect of the rights of Kuwait as well as those of Iraq, Palestinians and all people of the Middle East, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro said.