TORONTO, Jul 5, 02 (CWNews.com) - Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien will not be on hand personally to greet Pope John Paul II when he arrives in Toronto later this month, according to media reports.
Organizers for the World Youth Day celebration in Toronto, which will take place July 22-28, say they have been informed that the Canadian prime minister will not participate in a welcoming ceremony. The organizers have made no attempt to hide their disappointment at that news.
Spokesmen for the Canadian prime minister have said that Chretien does not intend to belittle the Pope by failing to greet him when he arrives in Toronto. The prime minister's office claims, in fact, that no final decision has been made regarding Chretien's possible participation in the welcoming ceremony.
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5. juli 2002