Pope John Paul II spoke out against hatred, fanaticism and terrorism during a visit to Kazakhstan and stressed the Catholic church's respect for Islam.
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Pope John Paul II: Fanaticism and terrorism profane the name of God and disfigure the true image of man
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"I wish to reaffirm the Catholic Church's respect for Islam, for authentic Islam: the Islam that prays, that is concerned for those in need," he said during his third day in the Central Asian country’s capital, Astana.
"Hatred, fanaticism and terrorism profane the name of God and disfigure the true image of man," he said.
"Recalling the errors of the past, including the most recent past, all believers ought to unite their efforts to ensure that God is never made the hostage of human ambitions," the Pope said.
Earlier, the Vatican said it would understand the US resorting to force in response to the attacks on the country two weeks ago but said it prefers a non-violent solution.
Its position on the international crisis and the moral legitimacy of an eventual US response was outlined by Pope John Paul's chief spokesman, Mr Joaquin Navarro-Valls, in an interview with Reuters.
"It is certain that if someone has done great harm to society and there is a danger that if he remains free, he may be able to do it again. You have the right to apply self-defence for the society which you lead even though the means you may choose may be aggressive," he said.
Mr Navarro-Valls said self-defence sometimes implied the use of violence for lack of an alternative. Sometimes self-defence implies an action that may lead to the death of a person, he said.
"Either people who have carried out a horrendous crime are put in a position where they can do no further harm, by being handed over and put into custody, or the principle of self-defence applies with all its consequences," he said.
AFP &