Who's Sorry Now?

Aug. 9: "The immensity of their suffering corresponds to the enormity of the crime committed against them." POPE JOHN PAUL II apologizing for the Roman Catholic Church's support of the enslavement of African men, women and children. Apology lag: Several hundred years, but shorter than that of the Vatican's recent apology to Galileo.

Aug. 23: "I would like to take this opportunity to offer anew our deep remorse and apologies for our nation's past acts of aggression." JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER MORIHIRO HOSOKAWA apologizing for World War II.

Apology lag: A half-century.

Aug. 25: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN laid a wreath of flowers at a commemoration site to apologize for the massacre of 15,000 Polish army officers by Soviet forces in Katyn Forest during World War II.

Apology lag: A half-century.

Aug. 31: "The alleged abuses were committed in a state of siege. They were not committed as part of a deliberate and systematic policy." AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA apologizing for atrocities allegedly committed by the A.N.C. against suspected enemies. Apology lag: Several years.