Pope meets the press, calls fervent prayers for peace best way to combat terrorism

Vatican City, Jul 20, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Yesterday, on the eve of the two week anniversary of the London blasts which killed 56 commuters, and in light of today’s evacuation of three more underground stations, Pope Benedict XVI said that terrorism must be fought with sincere prayer for peace, and dialogue--especially among the three religions which recognize Abraham as Father.

The Pope responded to reporters questions while returning to his vacation chalet from Val Grisanche in the northwest Italian alps. He is on holiday in the Valle d’Aosta region of Italy until July 28th when he will travel to the papal summer residence of Castelgandolfo, south of Rome.

As Benedict’s car returned to the chalet he surprised onlookers by asking the driver to stop and getting out to answer reporters questions. Among them, were his thoughts on the July 7th London attacks.

The Holy Father said that if it’s true that "terrorism is irrational" and therefore impervious to signs, then dialogue can at least "be one element, a cry of alarm, an invitation to abandon terrorism."

He also noted, perhaps optimistically, that even after the London attacks, there is no major clash of civilizations in the world--only "small fanatical groups."

In this vein, he stressed the importance of "dialogue between the three religions that recognize Abraham as father (Christianity, Judaism and Islam),” and encouraged prayer “that the desire, which exists throughout the world and is clearly against all violence, may prevail and grow stronger."

Asked about his vacation itself, which he has been on since July 11th, the Pope said: "It is a marvelous holiday, everything here is beautiful, it is a paradise."