Pope warns against undermining democracy in fight against terrorism

Published: 2007-09-21

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI warned politicians against undermining the foundations of democracy in their fight against terrorism. "Terrorism is a serious problem whose perpetrators often claim to act in God's name and harbor an inexcusable contempt for human life," he told a group of politicians promoting Christian democracy. Countries have a right to defend themselves, he said, "but this right must be exercised with complete respect for moral and legal norms, including the choice of ends and means." The pope's comments came during a Sept. 21 audience at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo with some 200 members of the executive committee of Centrist Democratic International, an international association of political parties promoting Christian democracy. Pope Benedict said that in democratic nations "the use of force in a manner contrary to the principles of a constitutional state can never be justified."

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