A frail Pope John Paul II told Muslims and Catholics in Kazakhstan yesterday that religion could never be used as an excuse for war and urged all faiths to unite in a world without violence.
"We must not let what has happened lead to a deepening of division," the Pope said in reference to the terrorist attacks in the US after celebrating Mass before thousands.
"Religion must never be used as a reason for conflict," the Pope said after the Mass.
"I wish to make an earnest call to everyone, Christians and followers of other religions, that we work together to build a world without violence," he added, speaking slowly in a shaky voice.
Walking tentatively and with the aid of a stick, the Pope met President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who is keen to earn greater recognition for his oil-rich Central Asian state.
John Paul's visit to this mainly Muslim former Soviet republic, where there are more than 100 different nationalities and ethnic groups, has taken on a new significance after the terrorist strikes in the US.
Although people said the visit might not be possible due to fears about the security of the Pope, "we see that it is possible to carry out this visit," the Pontiff said during his meeting with Mr Nazarbayev.
Kazakhstan lies in the volatile Central Asian region, which threatens to be destabilized should the US launch retaliatory strikes against Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect for last week's attacks, and his Taliban hosts.
Stability in the region has already been undermined by Islamic fighters, who are reported to have been trained in Afghanistan and who attacked Kazakhstan's neighbours, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, last year.
Kazakhstan had come out decisively against terrorism and was prepared with a coalition of states to fight it jointly "because we consider one state alone, no matter how big it is, cannot beat terrorism," Mr Nazarbayev said.
The Pope cited Kazakhstan as an example of harmony between men and women of different origins and beliefs.
During the Mass, he prayed Kazakhstan may "progress on the basis in particular of co-operation between Christians and Muslims," a sentiment greeted with applause from the crowd.
The Pontiff was addressing people of all creeds - including Muslims, who packed into Motherland Square under a statue depicting a mother waiting for her son to return from war.
The Pontiff paid his respects to communities exiled to this former Soviet republic during the Stalinist years.
"I know the sufferings to which many of you were subjected when the previous totalitarian regime took you from your lands of origin and deported you here in a situation of distress and deprivation," the Pope said at the mass.
"I am happy to be here among you and to tell you that you are close to the Pope's heart," he added.
Speaking later before youngsters who chanted "Papa" or Pope as he left, the Pope noted he was meeting people from different backgrounds who had encountered suffering.
"Your country has experienced the deadly violence of ideology. Don't let yourselves fall prey now to the no-less destructive violence of emptiness," he urged the youngsters.