Pope says as he gets weaker his belief in prayer for peace increases

Published: 2004-09-08

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II said that as his physical strength decreases his conviction that prayer can bring peace increases. "In a few days we will remember that terrible Sept. 11, 2001, which brought death to the heart of the United States," the pope said in a message read Sept. 7 at an interreligious meeting for peace. "Three years have passed and, unfortunately, from that day terrorism seems to have increased its threats of destruction," said the message released by the Vatican and read at the meeting in Milan, Italy, by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The pope said there is no doubt that the threat of terrorism must be met with "firmness and decisiveness in combating the death-makers," yet nations also must work to uproot anything that favors the growth of terrorism, particularly "poverty, desperation and hollowness of hearts." Even with terrorist activity increasing around the globe, the pope said, "we must not let ourselves be overcome by fear, which leads us to close in on ourselves and which reinforces the selfishness of individuals and groups."

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