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Why is Zimbabwe's Mugabe attending Beatification of Pope John Paul II?

Michael Stone's photo
Humanist Examiner

 Among the thousands of Catholics in Rome for the beatification of John Paul II is Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. Saturday, Mugabe, alleged to be running one of the most cruel and sadistic regimes in the world, managed to circumvent a ban prohibiting him from traveling to the European Union. Many now wonder why and how Mugabe was able to disregard the travel ban.

 
Mugabe has been banned from travel to the European Union because of his horrific and despicable human rights abuses. However, Rome, and Vatican City, which is not part of the European Union, are both allowing safe passage to the political strong man responsible for much human suffering.

Apparently the Zimbabwean president was able to flout the travel ban because he was invited to the Vatican – which is not part of the EU – as a head of state. Zimbabwe is a state with which the Holy See (the Vatican) has diplomatic relations. The Vatican, a sovereign State that is not part of the EU, has a treaty that allows individuals wanting to travel to the Vatican to pass through Italy. 

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Catholic Church officials in Rome estimated as many as a million people may attend Sunday's mass celebrating the beatification of John Paul II.
 
 
It is rumored President Mugabe, a tyrant and a despot, will not stand in the next Zimbabwe election due to ill health and advanced age. Nevertheless, there are widespread reports of systematic and escalating violations of human rights in Zimbabwe under the Mugabe administration and his party, ZANU-PF.

By Saturday evening the Twitter stream was filled with angry rants, disgusted with Rome and the Vatican for allowing this confirmed moral monster safe passage:

 
Oh, hey Mugabe. Unless you're willing to admit to murder, just go home. We don't want you near JP2 or Vatican.

Really Vatican? You openly accept Robert freaking Mugabe as one of your own? That’s disgraceful to Pope John Paul II.

Can't believe Mugabe is allowed to travel to Rome despite Euro travel ban

Mugabe is attending a ceremony in Vatican City to make John Paul II a saint? Well I suppose he won't be the first beast in the Vatican...

why was Mugabe given permission to attend the ceremony? weird and creepy

If we can bomb Qaddafi, surely we can arrest Mugabe when he offers himself up on a platter like this

Mugabe in Rome for beatification? Arrest that man! Wtf is mugabe doing here? Vatican may not be eu but the roman airport is!

What is the purpose of a travel ban for Mugabe if European nations blatantly choose to ignore it?

 
 
 What do you think about the Vatican allowing Robert Mugabe safe passage to attend the beatification of John Paul II?
Robert Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Robert Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Photo credit: 
Getty

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Michael Stone is a progressive freethinker and freelance writer residing in Portland, Oregon. Informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion, Michael’s task is to question the world in pursuit of the good. You can reach Michael at stonemichael@hotmail.com.

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