Pope says religions must be respected, but cannot promote violence

Published: 2006-02-20

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In the midst of continuing violence provoked by satirical cartoons of the prophet Mohammed, Pope Benedict XVI criticized those who use the wounded feelings of their faithful to promote violence. "Religions and their symbols must be respected," the pope said Feb. 20, but "intolerance and violence never can be justified as a response to the offense, since they are not responses compatible with the sacred principles of religion." The pope made his comments during an audience to welcome Ali Achour as the new ambassador of Morocco to the Vatican. While no violence has been reported in Morocco, news agencies said at least 15 Christians were killed and more than a dozen Christian churches burned Feb. 18 in Maiduguri, Nigeria, after an anti-cartoon demonstration turned violent. Among those killed was Father Michael Gajere, a Nigerian priest. A protest in Libya Feb. 17 claimed the lives of at least 11 people. Pope Benedict told the Moroccan ambassador that while no one had the right to purposefully denigrate the faith of another, "one cannot but deplore the actions of those who deliberately profit from the offense of religious sentiments in order to foment violent actions."

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