VATICAN CITY (CNS): Protests threatened to overshadow the sparkling lights of the Vatican’s Christmas tree when it was presented by a controversial right-wing Austrian politician.
As Jorg Haider sat in St Peter’s Square on December 16 with Vatican officials beneath the 30-metre fir, clashes between police and demonstrators three blocks away left more than 50 people injured.
Together with a 250-member delegation from the region, Mr Haider, governor of Austria’s Carinthia province, which offered the tree, met earlier in the day with Pope John Paul II.
The Vatican downplayed the event, pointing out that the tree’s donation was arranged well before Mr Haider was elected as Carinthia’s governor. The Vatican also said the audience was not of a political nature.
Demonstrations against Mr Haider, whose past comments opposing immigration and expressing sympathy with some Nazi policies sparked criticism throughout Europe, were held in various parts of Rome, led by leftists, Jewish groups, gays and World War II partisans.
Neo-fascists held a counter-demonstration in support of Mr Haider’s visit and his ideas on curbing immigration.
