Vatican City, Oct 30, 2003 / 22:00 pm
Addressing 350 participants at the Conference of the Ministers of the Interior of the European Union, Pope John Paul II told European leaders that religion in public life is key to protecting human life and to promoting peace in the world.
The Conference has as its theme, “Interreligious Dialogue: a Factor of Social Cohesion in Europe and an Instrument of Peace in the Mediterranean Region.”
The Pope told the ministers that this theme “recognizes the importance of religion, not only for safeguarding human life but also for promoting peace.”
The Pope said that building spaces of freedom, security and justice “involves seeking new solutions for the problems linked with respect for life, with the right of the family, with emigration; problems which must be considered, not only in the European perspective but also in the context of the dialogue with the countries of the Mediterranean area.”