Pope tells Afghan visitors: religion must not divide
August 07, 2024
» Continue to this story on Vatican Press Office
CWN Editor's Note: Meeting on August 7 with a delegation from Afghanistan, Pope Francis underlined “the principle that one cannot invoke God’s name to foment contempt, hatred, and violence toward others.”
The Pope remarked on the history of Afghanistan, “marked by a succession of wars and blood-stained conflicts.” He also pointed to the ethnic and religious diversity of the country, and insisted on the importance of peaceful cooperation and mutual respect.
Pope Francis reminded the group that on h is visit to the Central African Republic, he asked for and received permission to pray in a mosque. He also cited the statement on human fraternity that he signed, along with Sheik Ahmad Al-Tayyeb of the Al Azhar mosque, stating that “religions must never incite war, hateful attitudes, hostility and extremism, nor must they incite violence or the shedding of blood.”
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