IRA news beautiful, says Pope

POPE Benedict XVI yesterday hailed the IRA’s decision to disarm as “beautiful news” and urged all to work for lasting peace.

Pope Benedict, addressing pilgrims at his summer palace outside Rome, expressed “satisfaction and hope” over the development a few days earlier in which the IRA met international demands to declare its 1997 ceasefire permanent and to renounce violence.

“I encourage everyone without exception to continue to travel down, with courage, the indicated path and to undertake further steps which will allow the strengthening of mutual trust, promote reconciliation and consolidate the negotiations aimed at just and lasting peace,” the pope said.