Pope brings peace message to US amid Qaeda threats

Pope Benedict will carry a message of peace during a six-day U.S. visit beginning on
Tuesday, but Osama bin Laden's recent condemnations of the
Roman Catholic leader have put security officials on edge.

US intelligence authorities and Church officials say
there are no specific, credible threats surrounding the first
American papal visit since the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.

But they are mindful that al Qaeda's leader in March
accused Benedict taking part in a "new crusade" against
Muslims, which has raised already-high security worries.
Security for the pontiff's visit to Washington and New York is
tighter than previous papal trips, officials said.

Other Islamist militants previously threatened Benedict
over his quotation in 2006 of a medieval text condemning
Islam's Prophet Mohammed.

The last papal visit to the US, by Benedict's
predecessor, Pope John Paul, was in 1999.

"We have to take what al Qaeda leaders say seriously. It's
not just rhetoric," said Charles Allen, U.S. undersecretary of
Homeland Security for Intelligence and Analysis.

He told reporters an assessment by Homeland Security and
the FBI found "no direct threat to the pope" and security
officials said bin Laden's latest message did not alter their
plans. But they plan an all-out protection effort overseen by
the U.S. Secret Service.

The agency declined to specify security measures. New York
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said they would include
thousands of police on the streets, scuba divers in the East
River, radiation detectors and flight restrictions.

"There was certainly a very robust plan when the previous
pope visited New York. I would venture to say that there is
perhaps a little more now," Kelly said. "This is a post-9/11
event, and we have to factor in other considerations."

Security is so tight that no Sikh can attend a meeting
between the pope and leaders of other religions because he
would not be allowed to wear the "kirpan" ceremonial dagger all
men baptized in the faith must wear.

Peace in the Middle East and elsewhere will be the main
theme of Benedict's message, capped by a speech to the United
Nations on Friday, said Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.