Some of the most senior members of the Vatican have reportedly put aside their rifts with Tony Blair and George Bush over the war in Iraq, and have requested that increased military presence of multinational troops be sent to the region.

The call comes as the Vatican expressed its fears for Iraq’s stuttering democratic growth.

In February 2003, Pope John Paul II and the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, provided fierce opposition to the UK and US leaders’ attack against Saddam Hussein. Their criticism was supposed to have been kept private; however, the denunciations were made public by Vatican officials, who told a press conference that the Pope had told Mr Blair to “make use of all the resources offered by international law to avoid the tragedy of war.”

However, now that the history of Iraq has moved into the post-war era, Cardinal Sodano has voiced renewed opinions on the chaos in the region.

“The child has been born. It may be illegitimate, but it’s here, and it must be reared and educated,” said the secretary of state.

Continued terrorist attacks have confirmed to the Pope that only increased military presence in Iraq, including Nato troops, could drive the state towards peace.

A Vatican advisor stated that “there is feeling that there really is no going back.”

Sodano also reported to an Italian newspaper, La Stampa, that as the crisis in Iraq got worse, that the time had now come for all nations to put aside past differences over the decision to go to war, and to unite together for Iraq’s future.

The comments seem to be aimed heavily at France and Germany, as part of a campaign to stimulate military and financial support for the region. Both these countries have flatly refused to consider contributing troops to the country, whilst American and British forces were still there.

In addition to the Vatican’s call for multinational support to the area, a front page editorial has also appeared in the Avvenire – a highly influential Roman Catholic magazine with well-regarded board members such as the Pope’s own vicar, Cardinal Camillo Ruini. The editorial called for “tens of thousands of Nato troops” to be sent to Iraq to support the interim Iraqi government and to ensure the promise of free elections in the newly-born democratic state.

A renowned theologian, Vittorio Parsi, has criticised the countries who have refused to commit troops to the region and condemned their “laziness”.

Parsi said, “Even the European countries that opposed the American decision to overthrow Saddam Hussein’s regime know well that an Iraq in the hands of the worst terrorists and criminals goes against the interests of all.”

Both Blair and Bush will welcome the newly found support of the Vatican, as they continue their campaigns for re-election in their respective countries.