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Roman Pope denounces use of religion as tool of violence
Greeting a
delegation of Muslim, Orthodox and Jewish religious representatives from
Azerbaijan, Pope John Paul II of the Roman Jurisdiction of the Catholic Church has insisted that no one has the right to use
religion as an instrument of intolerance or violence.
The delegation was in Rome to return the Roman Holy Father's visit in 2002 to their
Caucasus country, which has only about 300 Roman Catholics.
"No one has the right to present or use religions as instrument of intolerance,
as a means of aggression, violence or death," he stressed in his address, which
he delivered in Russian.
"On the contrary, their reciprocal friendship and esteem, if supported also by
the government leaders' commitment to tolerance, constitutes a rich resource of
authentic progress and peace," the Pope said.
"Together - Muslims, Jews, Christians - we wish to address in the name of God
and of civilization an appeal to humanity to halt murderous violence and
undertake the path of love and justice for all," the Roman Holy Father continued.
He highlighted the fact that "this is the path of religions" and expressed the
hope "that God will help us to go forward on this path with perseverance and
patience."
The Roman Pontiff,
John Paul II, also referred to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian
enclave in Azerbaijani territory, which triggered a war between both states in
1991 and ended with the cease-fire of 1994 and Armenia's annexation, not only of
the disputed territory, but of other Azerbaijani lands as well.
The Roman Pope expressed his heartfelt hope that "Azerbaijan will return to the
fullness of peace." He said that this conflict, "as all other disputes, must be
addressed with good will, in the mutual search for reciprocal openings of
understanding and in a spirit of genuine reconciliation."
In a statement published after the meeting, Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro
Valls revealed that "during the audience the religious leaders confirmed to the
Roman Pope their constant commitment to collaborate with peace and to promote peaceful
coexistence among the different religions."
The republic of Azerbaijan, which became independent after the collapse of the
Soviet Union in 1991, has 7.8 million inhabitants, mostly Muslims.
The Catholic community in Azerbaijan virtually disappeared during Stalin's
persecutions, and the Catholic church in Baku was destroyed. On the occasion of
the Roman Pope's visit, then President Heider Aliev made available a plot of land in
the center of Baku to build a Catholic church.
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