Tripoli bishop criticizes NATO bombing

(May 06, 2011) The Catholic head of Tripoli is calling for a halt to NATO air strikes in Libya and for the West to negotiate with Moammar Gadhafi's government, insisting the Libyan leader doesn't oppose dialogue. Archbishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he has drawn his inspiration from the pope's desire for peace. Though Pope Benedict XVI has called for dialogue and diplomacy to prevail over warfare in the North African country, Archbishop Martinelli, an Italian who was born in Libya in 1942, has gone much further by directly and repeatedly criticizing the NATO airstrikes aimed at helping rebels waging an uprising against Gadhafi's 42-year rule. Martinelli, who also attended the recent funeral of Gadhafi's son, said he was speaking from his conscience and in his role as pastor in the name of the Gospel. Vatican spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi, praised the archbishop as an authoritative voice on the situation in Libya who is tending as a pastor to his people under difficult circumstances. He said the Holy See in no way distances itself from his remarks.