Pope sees nationalists

Press, 2 December 1978, Page 6

Pope sees nationalists

NZPA-Reuter Rome Pope John Paul II has met four black nationalist leaders and discussed alleged human-rights violations in white-governed countries of southern Africa, the black nationalists have reported. The secret audience granted at the black leaders’ request, was held in the Apostolic Palace, and it marked the first bold political act of the Polish-born Pontiff. The meeting was disclosed by Mr Oliver Tambo, exiled President of the African National Congress, a South African group, and Mr

George Silundika, a member of the executive of the Patriotic Front, the organisation opposing Mr lan Smith’s Government in Rhodesia. The other two leaders present at the 20-minute private audience with the Pope were Mr Kumbirai Kangai, secretary of social services and transport of the Patriotic Front, and Mr Sam Nujoma, president of the I South-West African People’s Organisation. The leaders told a news conference they had drawn the Pope’s attention to al-

r leged violations of human i- rights in . southern Africa, - and that John Paul II had ti expressed great concern over - the situation. “The Pope recalled the des portation of (Rhodesian) Bis- - hop Donal Lamont for his e sympathy towards the liberi, ation movements, and he s promised to exert his moral i- persuasion to make all , human beings, in particular Christians, aware of the site uation in southern Africa,” s Mr Silundika said. The Irish-born Bishop Lamont was deported from (Rhodesia last year after n being convicted of aiding I-1 guerrillas.