Pope says dialogue can help end terrorism, war, religious strife

Published: 2006-11-28

ANKARA, Turkey (CNS) -- Addressing international diplomats on his first day in Turkey, Pope Benedict XVI said respectful dialogue must be the basis for ending terrorism, wars and religious differences in the world. Religions have a key role in this dialogue, but on the condition that they "utterly refuse to sanction recourse to violence as a legitimate expression of religion," the pope told a gathering of about 90 ambassadors in the Turkish capital of Ankara Nov. 28. The pope, on his first trip to a predominantly Muslim country, made a point of expressing his "great esteem" for Muslims. He also cited Turkey's constitutional protection of religious freedom, and said every democratic state was duty-bound to guarantee those rights. The papal speech came at the end of a long day of activities in Turkey, where the pontiff was making a difficult four-day pilgrimage aimed at building ecumenical and interreligious bridges. He met the diplomats in a small auditorium at the apostolic nunciature.

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