In his New Year’s Day sermon, Pope Benedict XVI urged different faiths to work together for peace and an end to religious violence.
Pope Benedict was speaking from St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City when he announced his intention to hold an October summit similar to that of his predecessor, the late Pope John Paul. He said the purpose of the conference would be to “solemnly renew the effort of those with faith of all religions to live their faith as a service for the cause of peace.”
“At present, Christians are the religious group which suffers most from persecution on account of its faith,” the Pope asserted, referring to both overt and subtle attacks on Christians and Christian symbols.
These attacks, he said are an affront to all religious freedom, human rights and ultimately, society.
“I implore all men and women of good will to renew their commitment to building a world where all are free to profess their religion or faith, and to express their love of God with all their heart, with all their soul and with all their mind,” the pope urged.
“Often these forms of hostility also foster hatred and prejudice. They are inconsistent with a serene and balanced vision of pluralism and the secularity of institutions, to say nothing of the fact that coming generations risk losing contact with the priceless spiritual heritage of their countries,” Benedict added.