” ““We can’t but censure the actions of those who intentionally take advantage of the offence to religious feelings to stir up violence, even more because this is done for purposes that are alien to religion”. This was repeated today by Benedict XVI, as received the credentials of the new ambassador of Morocco to the Holy See, Ali Achour. “In the global scenario as we know it now said the Pope the Catholic church is convinced that, in order to promote peace and understanding between peoples and men, it is necessary and urgent that the religions and their symbols be respected, and that the believers be not the victims of provocations that hurt their religious journey and feelings”. But “intolerance and violence can never be excused as a response to offence, because they are not compatible with the sacred principles of religion; so, we can’t but censure the actions of those who intentionally take advantage of the offence to religious feelings to stir up violence, even more because this is done for purposes that are alien to religion”. For believers and all men of goodwill, he highlighted, “the only way to peace and fraternity is respect for other people’s beliefs and religious practices, so that the exercise of freely-chosen religions may be really and mutually ensured to everyone, in every society”. The Pope invited to recognise the Mediterranean region as a “place of meeting and dialogue among different cultures” and, about migration in these countries, he urged the institutions of “the countries of destination and transit not to consider” immigrants “as goods or just as labour, and to respect their fundamental rights and human dignity”.
