
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 16, 1990                   TAG: 9006160040
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VATICAN CITY                                LENGTH: Short

POPE MEETS, BLESSES WORK OF MANDELA

Pope John Paul II on Friday greeted South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela and blessed his efforts to destroy the system of racial segregation.

But the pontiff did not directly answer Mandela's request to support economic sanctions to keep pressure on South Africa's white leaders.

Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro said the Vatican considers sanctions a political issue but that apartheid was an ethical problem that should be addressed by the pope.

The Vatican last year issued a major document on racism which harshly condemned apartheid.

by CNB