VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul, marking the anniversary of the attacks on U.S. cities, branded terrorism ``ferocious inhumanity'' but asked for prayers that God would show mercy and forgiveness for the attackers.
The pope also urged the world to change in situations of injustice that spurred the desire for revenge.
``We pray for the victims today, may they rest in peace, and may God show mercy and forgiveness for the authors of this horrible terror attack,'' he said in Polish, according to a translation provided by Vatican Radio.
The pope was speaking in unscripted remarks in Polish during a special general audience dedicated to commemorating the victims of the attacks by hijacked aircraft on New York and Washington landmarks.
The service included mourning music and a peace prayer.
``Terrorism is and always will be a manifestation of ferocious inhumanity, and because it is, it never will resolve conflicts between human beings,'' he told some 10,000 people in the Vatican's vast auditorium.
``Violence can only lead to further hatred and destruction.''
But he called for changes in ``scandalous situations of injustice and oppression, which continue to afflict so many members of the human family, creating conditions that are favorable to the uncontrolled explosion of the thirst for vendetta.''
After his address, special prayers were read in several languages, including Arabic, for the victims of the attacks and for peace among religions.
MORE THAN 3,000 DEAD
More than 3,000 people died in the attacks on New York's World Trade Center, U.S. military headquarters at the Pentagon on the Washington outskirts and in a hijacked plane that crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.
The prayer read in Arabic asked believers of all religions to ``firmly reject every form of violence and commit themselves to resolving conflicts with sincere and patient dialogue'' while respecting different histories, cultures and religions.
Speaking in a somber voice in his address, the pope said injustices had to be tackled through urgent and resolute political and economic actions.
He said that when fundamental rights were violated in oppressive situations, ``it is easy to fall prey to the temptation of hate and violence.''
But one year on, the pontiff said it was not enough to commemorate the victims and pray for their families.
``We also want to interrogate the consciences of those who planned and carried out such a barbarous and cruel action,'' he said.
``One year after September 11, 2001, we repeat that no situation of injustice, no feeling of frustration, no philosophy or religion can justify such an aberration.''
``On this very sad anniversary, we raise to God our prayer so that love may be able to take the place of hate, and, with the help of all people of good will, that concord and solidarity may take root in every corner of the earth,'' he said.