Orthodox leader: Only worthy battle is against one's own prejudices

Published: 2007-10-22

NAPLES, Italy (CNS) -- The only battle worthy of a religious believer is the battle against his or her own passions and prejudices, said Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. "Because violence is an anti-value, it cannot be used to defend values," the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians said Oct. 21 at the opening of an interreligious meeting for dialogue and peace in Naples. The meeting was sponsored by the Rome-based Community of Sant'Egidio and brought together more than 300 Christians, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Buddhists and followers of other religions. Pope Benedict XVI, who was making a pastoral visit to the Archdiocese of Naples, greeted the religious leaders before the meeting began and shared lunch with them. The pope had encouraged the religious leaders, telling them that violence and evil can never be justified in the name of God.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .