Pope Francis has told Albanian religious leaders that distorted forms of religion that promote violence must be firmly refuted as false.
During a one day visit to the former communist nation on September 21, the Pope said authentic religion is a source of peace.
“To kill in the name of God is a grave sacrilege. To discriminate in the name of God is inhuman,” the Pope said.
The Pope then spoke about authentic religious freedom in a multi-faith setting such as Albania.
He told the faith leaders that “religious freedom is a spared space, an atmosphere of respect and co-operation that must be built with everyone’s participation, even those who have no religious convictions”.
The Pope went on to outline two attitudes that help in this area.
The first is to regard all people,” not as rivals, less still enemies, but rather as brothers and sisters”.
“When a person is secure of his or her own beliefs, there is no need to impose or put pressure on others: there is a conviction that truth has its own power of attraction.”
The second attitude which fosters the promotion of religious freedom is the work done in service of the common good, the Pope said.