THE Pope publicly rebuked President Bush yesterday over the invasion of Iraq and expressed dismay over prisoner abuse and continued turmoil in the Middle East.

In a Papal lecture far stronger and more stinging than the White House had expected, the Pope told Mr Bush during a meeting at the Vatican that without a commitment to “shared human values” the War on Terror was unwinnable. As he spoke, thousands of anti-war protesters took to the streets of Rome to vent their anger at the violence in Iraq.

Seated in a wheelchair inside his private library, the frail 84-year-old Pontiff, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, delivered his remarks in English from a prepared script. At times his slurred, halting speech was unintelligible, but when a transcript of his remarks was released, his message was bluntly clear.

On the first leg of a three-day visit to Italy and France, ostensibly to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the liberation of Rome, Mr Bush was left in no doubt that events in Iraq and the actions of a new generation of American soldiers carry as much weight as the heroism of a past one.

The Pope reminded Mr Bush of his opposition to the Iraq war and told him that his visit came “at a moment of great concern for the continuing situation of grave unrest in the Middle East, both in Iraq and the Holy Land”.

Mr Bush was told that the situation in Iraq should be “normalised as quickly as possible”, with the active help of the international community and the United Nations, “in order to ensure a speedy return of Iraq’s sovereignty”.

In a reference to the abuse of prisoners in Iraq, the Pope echoed comments made by the Vatican’s Foreign Minister last month when he suggested that the US was in danger of losing the War on Terror if it perpetuated such behaviour.

“In the past few weeks other deplorable events have come to light which have troubled the civic and religious conscience of all, and made more difficult a serene and resolute commitment to shared human values. In the absence of such a commitment, neither war nor terrorism will ever be overcome,” the Pope said.

The Pope did, however, applaud the formation of the interim government in Iraq, describing it as an “ encouraging step”. “May a similar hope for peace also be rekindled in the Holy Land and lead to new negotiations,” he said.

Mr Bush, who loathes the pomp and formality of ceremony, was swamped with it yesterday. After a meeting with President Ciampi of Italy in the Quirinale Palace, he arrived in his limousine inside the Vatican’s ancient San Damaso courtyard to a line-up of the Swiss Guard and 14 papal gentlemen-in-waiting, dressed in white tie and tails.

Accompanied by his wife, Laura, Colin Powell, the Secretary of State, and Karl Rove, his chief political adviser, the President was ushered through a series of rooms that hold such artistic treasures as a Raphael tapestry, frescoes by Pomarancio and works by El Greco.

Mr Bush and the Pope held a private meeting for 15 minutes, before the Pope delivered his public remarks.

Mr Bush conducted a ceremony of his own, awarding the pontiff the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian award. He assured the Pope that his administration would “work for human liberty and human dignity, in order to spread peace and compassion”.

Having delivered his rebukes, the Pope said: “I am very, grateful, Mr President, for this thoughtful gesture. May the desire for freedom, peace, a more humane world symbolised by this medal inspire men and women of goodwill in every time and place. God bless America.”

Outside the Vatican, thousands had no intention of blessing Mr Bush. With an extra 10,000 riot police drafted into the city, protesters set dustbins alight, daubed Rome’s ancient walls with anti-Bush slogans and caused traffic chaos.

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