Apparently, Tariq Aziz, at a Vatican press conference today, refused to answer a question about missiles by the “Israeli media.” To his credit, a German reporter asked if there’d an answer if he asked it. Reportedly, several reporters walked out, but the Vatican let the conference continue.

Pious XII became known as “Hitler’s Pope.”

It will be a shame, and another blow to the Church, if John Paul becomes known as Saddam’s.

[Update at 3:40 PST]

Here’s the story as reported by ABC. Apparently I was mistaken–it wasn’t at the Vatican–it was at a press club in Rome following a meeting with the Pope. Given the Pope’s position, however, my broader point remains.