Pope Defends Worldwide Appeal for a Truce Today

Pope John Paul II, greeted Sunday by thousands of people singing “We Shall Overcome,” said his call for a worldwide truce today may seem Utopian to some people, but not to those who believe in God.

The Pope condemned what he called the “culture of contempt” that regards other cultures as primitive, insignificant and unworthy. Such an attitude, he said, leads to a “culture of death, a culture of violence and a culture of evil.”

The pontiff has called on warring factions everywhere to lay down their arms for 24 hours today.

Headed for Assisi

He was scheduled to spend today in Assisi, 15 miles from this central Italian city, to pray and fast for nine hours along with leaders of 11 other religions.

Security was tightened noticeably in Assisi after protesters shouting anti-papal obscenities hurled stones and broke stained glass in a small church in the town center early Sunday.

Father Antonio Sartori, director of the office set up in Assisi for the journalists covering today’s event, reported that police said seven men in two cars drove up to the church and shouted for several minutes before fleeing.

No arrests were reported.

Italian authorities have deployed about 1,500 policemen for security duty in Assisi, which was bustling with 24,000 residents and about 20,000 pilgrims, tourists and journalists. Sharpshooters were posted on rooftops, television monitors installed on street corners and the town center of pink stone houses and churches was closed to traffic.

In Perugia, a historic city adorned with medieval buildings and churches, thousands of people lined the streets Sunday to hear the pontiff.

8,000 Welcomers

In the central Piazza IV Novembre, John Paul was greeted by about 8,000 people waving handkerchiefs in various colors. A group of American students led the crowd in singing “We Shall Overcome” in English.

“No one can hide the great difficulties of our time . . . holding entire humanity in bondage of great fear,” said the Pope, standing under a canopy on the steps of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo overlooking the square.

“The prayer gathering in Assisi is for dialogue, peace and hope. It may seem as Utopian to some, but it is not so for all those who believe, for those who take God and His words seriously,” he said.