Reagan Differs WithSpeakes on Papal Message

President Reagan said today that Pope John Paul II “has been most supportive of all of our activities in Central America” moments after his spokesman said the pontiff has not endorsed aid to the Nicaraguan rebels.

Reagan, asked during a picture-taking session in the Oval Office with Algerian President Chadli Bendjedid whether the Pope’s recent message to him included support for U.S. aid to Nicaraguan guerrillas, told reporters:

“You know, I am not supposed to answer questions here, but he has been most supportive of all of our activities in Central America.”

Moments before the presidential comments, White House spokesman Larry Speakes said the Pope’s message was not an endorsement of Reagan’s plan for $14 million in aid to the rebels fighting the leftist Sandinista government in Nicaragua.

Reagan, asked whether the pontiff specifically supported military aid to the rebels, said, “I’m not going into detail about all our activities.”

‘Urging Us to Continue’

The President had referred to the papal message in a speech Tuesday to a group of about 200 religious leaders. Reagan said then that he had just received a “message . . . from the Pope urging us to continue our efforts in Central America.” At the time, Reagan did not elaborate on the message, nor did he say how it had been relayed.

Speakes, asked today by reporters about the papal message, said, “I would not construe it as an endorsement of the (President’s) aid package.”

Asked whether the Pope indicated any support for U.S. efforts to support the rebels, Speakes said: “I wouldn’t read that into it. I don’t think the Vatican gets that involved in U.S. policy.”

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro Valls said the Pope’s backing referred only to peace efforts.