Pope to Italian Catholics: West must return to its Christian roots

Published: 2006-10-19

VERONA, Italy (CNS) -- Addressing Italian Catholic leaders, Pope Benedict XVI said that unless the West returns to its Christian roots it will be unable to dialogue with other religious cultures. The pope did not mention Islam in his speech Oct. 19, but his theme was one he has explored with increasing frequency in regard to dialogue with Muslims: that the followers of non-Christian religions like Islam mistrust the West's secular drift. He spoke in the northern Italian city of Verona to some 2,700 church delegates of the Fourth National Church Convention, a pastoral planning meeting held once every 10 years. The pontiff arrived in Verona under heavy security and was welcomed warmly as he rode through the city in a popemobile. The pope's hourlong speech, interrupted repeatedly with applause, explored a favorite topic of his 18-month-old pontificate: that personal faith should have a cultural impact, particularly in areas of the family, marriage, protection of human life and education.

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