Pope says Christian majority's religious symbols deserve respect

Published: 2003-10-31

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II said the religious symbols of the Christian majority in Europe deserve respect, even as the continent's population is shifting because of immigration. The pope's words Oct. 31 to a meeting of European interior ministers came as Italy was debating a judge's order to remove a crucifix from a classroom wall after complaints from a Muslim activist. Without mentioning the crucifix issue explicitly, the pope argued that religious symbols in a Christian country simply cannot be canceled from public life in the name of interreligious tolerance. "Europe, born of the encounter of various cultures with the Christian message, is seeing the growth in its midst of a number of cultural and religious traditions, caused by immigration," the pope said in his prepared text. That demographic change requires an attitude of cooperation and dialogue, he said. At the same time, he said, there should be legislative recognition of the religious traditions in which European countries find their roots and their identity.

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