Pope Calls for Religions to Unite Against Terrorism

December 2, 2003

Source: Agenzia Giornalistica Italia

http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200312021437-1088-RT1-CRO-0-NF82

On December 2, 2003 Agenzia Giornalistica Italia reported, "The 'name of God' must not be used to incite violence and terrorism, to promote hatred and exclusion. The Pope asked this, on receiving various Muslim leaders who came for a meeting organised by the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. According to the Pontiff, the dialogue between Islam and Christianity is, 'necessary to build bridges between individuals, peoples, and cultures.' And for this today it is 'especially urgent to follow dialogue, understanding, and cooperation between the great world religions, in particular Christianity and Islam.' Last Sunday at the Angelus, the old Pope sent an appeal to the great religions against violence and terrorism, and this morning he repeated that 'religion is called to build bridges between individuals peoples and cultures, to be a sign of hope for humanity.'"