Vatican City, Jan 14, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Pope John Paul II condemned this morning terrorism and said that if the society wants to defeat violence, it must promote family “as a natural society based on marriage.”
The Holy Father spoke at a meeting with the administrators of the Italian region of Lazio, and the city and province of Rome who arrived at the Vatican for the traditional exchange of New Year's greetings.
In his talk to the elected officials the Pope noted that “conflicts and tensions must be overcome together: It is necessary to fight together against terrorism which, sadly, also concerns this beloved city of ours."
Overcoming violence, stated John Paul II, can be done by building "a civilization of love. And how can we not think of the family as the most important place to realize this civilization of love?”