Iranian Leaders Give Mixed Responses To Pope's Death

Dow Jones Newswires, AP:

Iran 's leaders showed sharply different reactions to the death of Pope John Paul II Friday, with liberal President Mohammad Khatami personally attending the Pope's funeral as a gesture of respect while the Islamic Republic's supreme leader failing even to send a cable of condolence. READ MORE

Khamenei's snub is reportedly prompted by the wide belief in Iran that the Pope failed to issue a formal message of condolence when the founder of Iran 's 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, died in 1989. Khomeini is often described by Iran 's state-run media as "leader of the world's Muslims."

However, John Paul did comment on Khomeini's death during a 1989 visit to Finland, saying: "it is necessary to state with great respect and with deep reflection his impact on his country and a considerable part of the world."

In his Friday prayer sermons, former Iranian president Hashemi Rafsanjani praised John Paul for his opposition to the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, but said the late Pope fell short of full condemnation.

"They (the Vatican) should shout at America loudly. They should tell the Americans that the crimes they commit are discrediting Jesus because they are getting the vote of the American people in the name of Jesus and the church," Rafsanjani told thousands of worshippers.

"Popes cannot preach the teachings of Jesus and ignore the crimes committed by the U.S. throughout the world."

Rifts between the West and Islam will likely influence how the next pope measures his priorities. Relations with Islam - and who is best equipped to handle the delicate questions - is emerging as one of the factors that is expected to shape the decision of the cardinals when they gather this month to pick the 265th pontiff.