HOLY FATHER SENDS CARDINAL LAGHI AS SPECIAL ENVOY TO U.S.

VATICAN CITY, MAR 1, 2003 (VIS) - The following statement was made this morning to journalists by Joaquin Navarro-Valls, director of the Holy See Press Office:

"In light of the Iraqi crisis, the Holy Father has named Cardinal Pio Laghi as his special envoy to meet with George W. Bush, president of the United States.
"The cardinal, who will leave Rome in coming days, will carry a message from the Holy Father and will have an opportunity to illustrate the position and initiatives undertaken by the Holy See to contribute to disarmament and peace in the Middle East."

OP;LAGHI; ENVOY; US;...;NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;20030303;Word: 120;