Authentic religion is an instrument for the promotion of
peace, John Paul II says in a message sent to an interreligious
congress under way in Kazakhstan.
The two-day congress on the role of religions in today's world is being
attended by Kazakhstani President Nursultan
Nazarbayev. The Pope visited this former Soviet
republic in September 2001, shortly after the terrorist attacks on the United
States.
In his message, the Pope said he regarded the meeting as a continuation of the
spirit of the Days of Prayer for Peace, to which he convoked religious leaders
of the world.
"This new initiative of the Kazakhstan authorities will help to promote
respect for human dignity, the defense of religious freedom, and the growth of
mutual understanding among peoples, convinced as we are that religion, properly
understood, shows itself to be a solid instrument for the promotion of
peace," the papal message stated.
"For this purpose, the Catholic Church, on the basis of the revealed
teaching living within her, is committed to support every sincere effort in
favor of a genuine peace based on truth, justice, love and freedom," it
concluded.
Heading the Holy See's delegation to the congress is
Slovak Cardinal Jozef Tomko,
prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Others
in the delegation include Archbishop Renato Martino,
president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and Archbishop Tomasz Peta of Astana.
The congress ends Wednesday.