“I appeal to all religious authorities to join in reaffirming unequivocally that one can never kill in God’s name,” the pontiff said. Full Article
Pope Francis signaled the press for peace will continue to be a top-shelf priority in 2017, pleading for an end to the “homicidal madness” of terrorism and war.
In particular, Francis issued a challenge to religious leaders of all faiths to reject, once and for all, the idea that killing in the name of God can ever be justified.
“Sadly, we are conscious that even today, religious experience, rather than fostering openness to others, can be used at times as a pretext for rejection, marginalization and violence,” Francis said.
Referring to terrorist attacks and other acts of violence that erupted throughout 2016 in places such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, and even the United States, Francis said, “We are dealing with a homicidal madness which misuses God’s name in order to disseminate death, in a play for domination and power.”
“I appeal to all religious authorities to join in reaffirming unequivocally that one can never kill in God’s name,” the pontiff said.
Francis pledged his own ongoing commitment to trying to build bridges among faiths, citing his visits in 2016 to the synagogue of Rome and the mosque of Baku in Azerbaijan, his first-ever encounter with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in Cuba, and his trips to Armenia and Georgia that had a heavy emphasis on Catholic/Orthodox relations.