WAR IS A DEFEAT FOR HUMANITY, A TRAGEDY FOR RELIGION

VATICAN CITY, FEB 20, 2003 (VIS) - Members of an inter-religious delegation from Indonesia were welcomed to the Vatican today by the Holy Father, who told them that "at this time of great tension for the world, you have come to Rome and I am grateful to have the occasion to speak to you."

"With the real possibility of war looming on the horizon," he stated, "we must not permit politics to become a source of further division among the world's religions. In fact, neither the threat of war nor war itself should be allowed to alienate Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and members of other religions."

The Holy Father emphasized that "as religious leaders committed to peace, we should work together with our own people, with those of other religious beliefs and with all men and women of good will to ensure understanding, cooperation and solidarity. Earlier this year (in an address to the diplomatic corps), I said: 'War is always a defeat for humanity'; it is also a tragedy for religion."

"My fervent prayer," the Pope concluded, "is that our efforts to promote mutual understanding and trust will bear abundant fruit and help the world to avoid conflict. For it is through commitment and continuing cooperation that cultures and religions 'will be able to break through the barriers which divide them, to understand one another and to pardon those who have done them wrong'."

AC;INTERRELIGIOUS DELEGATION; INDONESIA;...;...;VIS;20030220;Word: 250;