Pope and world religious leaders vow to oppose terror in God's name [View all]

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Tue Sep 20, 2016 | 12:33pm EDT
By Philip Pullella | ASSISI, ITALY

Pope Francis and leaders of other world religions said "No to War!" on Tuesday, vowing to oppose terrorism in God's name and appealing to politicians to listen to "the anguished cry of so many innocents".

Francis flew by helicopter to the central Italian hilltop city that was home to St. Francis, the 13th century saint revered by many religions as a patron of peace and nature and a defender of the poor.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church closed a three-day meeting where about 500 representatives of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and other faiths discussed how their members could better promote peace and reconciliation.

Francis, who delivered two addresses and shared meals with the leaders, said indifference to suffering had become "a new and deeply sad paganism" that caused some to turn away from war victims and refugees with the same ease as changing a television channel.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-peace-idUSKCN11Q28S