The accusation by Osama bin Laden that
Pope Benedict XVI was leading “a new crusade” against Islam has raised security concerns for law enforcement officials overseeing the pope’s
Washington, D.C., visit next month.
But bin Laden’s message will have no bearing on the pope’s plans during his April 15-18 visit to the nation’s capital next month, organizers said.
“Absolutely not,” said Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Washington, when asked if changes were contemplated after the tape was released late Wednesday.
The pontiff will meet with the president twice, including only the second time in history that a pontiff will visit the White House.
The pope had not planned to make any public appearances other than celebrating Mass at Nationals Park before more than 40,000 worshippers. But last month, the Vatican agreed to let the pope take two trips through the city to allow people to see him travel the streets in his outfitted vehicle affectionately known as the popemobile.
Metropolitan Police Department officials were made aware of the al Qaeda leader’s warnings after the five-minute tape was posted on an Islamist Web site, said D.C. police spokeswoman Traci Hughes. She would not reveal how the department received the information.
“The department is aware of the threat and is taking it into consideration in finalizing security plans for the papal visit,” Hughes said.
The Police Department has been working with various federal agencies, led by the U.S. Secret Service, to develop a security plan since the pope’s visit was announced. Security for the three-day trip is estimated to cost the District more than $1 million.
Secret Service officials would not elaborate on the security response to bin Laden’s message.
“Due to the pope’s stature and visibility, we take every precaution necessary to provide a safe environment,” Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said.
In the five-minute audio message, the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and the nation’s capital warned of a day of reckoning for the publishing of controversial cartoons of theProphet Muhammad.
The drawings “came in the framework of a new crusade in which the pope of the Vatican has played a large, lengthy role,” bin Laden said.
