The District Chronicles

Issue date: 1/19/06 Section: DIVINE INTERVENTION

Media Credit: ericgarcetti.org [Click to enlarge]

VATICAN CITY - (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI on Jan. 9 warned that the rise of Islamic terrorism, countered by the use of unchecked military force, was leading the world toward a "clash of civilizations."

In a foreign policy address to the Vatican's diplomatic corps, Benedict said the "temptation to use overpowering violence" to deal with religious and ethnic disputes was fueling extremism around the world.

"Those who are committed to truth cannot fail to reject the law of might, which is based on a lie and has so frequently marked human history, nationally and internationally, with tragedy."

Although the Vatican has been publicly critical of unilateral military action taken by Israel against Palestinian militants and by the United States in Iraq, Benedict appeared to direct the force of his criticism at faith-inspired terrorist activity.

Noting that the world's attention "has rightly been drawn to the danger of a clash of civilizations," Benedict said, "the danger is made more acute by organized terrorism, which has already spread over the whole planet."

Amid heightened concern for the health of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Benedict said the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict provided a "paradigmatic illustration" of the cultural standoff, making the region "a nerve point of the world scene."

"The State of Israel has to be able to exist peacefully in conformity with the norms of international law," Benedict said. "Equally, the Palestinian people has to be able to develop serenely its own democratic institutions for a free and prosperous future."

Benedict also emphasized a need for broader religious freedoms in some parts of the world. Although he did not name any countries, the Vatican has also offered to re-establish diplomatic relations with China once the country embraces a broader definition of religious freedom.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools