ROME, Nov 20, 01 (CWNews.com) - The Pope's call for an inter-religious day of prayer for peace is a strong and effective response to those who exploit religion in the cause of warfare, according to the founder of the St. Egidio community.
Andrea Riccardi told the Italian daily Avvenire that the Pope's announcement could also be a means of bringing reconciliation between Christianity and "the soul of Islam."
Riccardi said that the circumstances leading up to the papal call for a day of prayer on January 24 are quite different from those that surrounded the initial inter-religious gathering in Assisi on October 27, 1986. Today, he said, religion is frequently being used as a justification for violence. He cited the conflicts in the Balkans and in Afghanistan as instances.
"The Pope is responding in a very noble manner, without accepting the provocations for a 'holy war,'" said Riccardi. The founder of the St. Egidio community said the Pope's message was a "strong and peaceful response" to the logic of violence.
Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
20. november 2001