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                               VIS-Press releases

RELIGIOUS LEADERS INVITED TO JOIN POPE IN ASSISI IN OCTOBER

VATICAN CITY, 1 JAN 2011 (VIS) - Following this morning's Mass celebrated in
the Vatican Basilica, the Pope appeared at the window of his study to address
faithful gathered below in St. Peter's Square for the first Angelus of 2011.

The Holy Father remarked how "on this day the Church invokes the gift of peace
from God through Jesus Christ. It is the World Day of Peace, an appropriate
occasion to reflect together on the great challenges our age places before
humankind.

"One of these challenges, which has become dramatically pressing over these
days is that of religious freedom", he added. "Today we are witnessing two
opposing tendencies, two equally negative extremes: on the one hand laicism
which deviously seeks to marginalise religion and confine it to the private
sphere and, on the other, fundamentalism which seeks to impose it on everyone
by use of force".

"Wherever religious freedom is effectively recognised the dignity of the human
being is respected at its roots and, through a sincere search for truth and
goodness, moral conscience is fortified and the institutions of civil
coexistence strengthened. For this reason religious freedom is the highway to
follow to build peace".

"By looking to the One Who is the 'Prince of peace' we understand that peace
cannot be achieved by arms, nor through economic, political, cultural or media
power. Peace is the work of consciences which open to truth and love. May God
help us to continue along this path in the new year He has granted us to live".

After praying the Angelus, the Pope recalled that his message for the World Day
of Peace had highlighted how "the great religions can represent an important
factor for the unity and peace of the human family. In this context", he said,
"I also noted that the year 2011 will mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the
World Day of Prayer for Peace which the Venerable John Paul II called in
Assisi, Italy, in 1986. For this reason, in the coming month of October, I will
make a pilgrimage to the town of St. Francis, inviting my Christian brethren of
different confessions, leaders of the world's religious traditions and, in
their hearts, all men and women of good will, to join me on this journey in
order to commemorate that important historical gesture of my predecessor, and
solemnly to renew the commitment of believers of all religions to live their
religious faith as a service to the cause of peace. Those who are journeying
towards God cannot fail to transmit peace; those who build peace cannot fail to
move towards God. I invite you, even now, to support this initiative with your
prayers".
ANG/VIS 20110103 (460)

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