'Not a religious war,' Pope says
July 27, 2016
"The world is at war," Pope Francis told reporters accompanying him on his July 27 flight to Krakow. But, he added, "I do not speak of a religious war."
Reacting to the murder of Father Jacques Hamel, the Pope said that the killing was part of a pattern of violence. But he insisted that the violence is not inspired by religion. "All religions seek peace," he said. "It is others who want war."
Pope Francis said that the world is now caught up in a war over "interests, money, natural resources, and the domination of peoples."
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Posted by: FredC -
Jul. 28, 2016 2:06 PM ET USA
Well he did include "domination." He just did not specify domination by Islam. There will be Saudi-Arabian type of peace when the entire world is Muslim. Will Jesus find any faithful when He returns? In Old Testament times, the Jews frequently experienced God's withdrawal of protection every time they led immoral lives. Is that happening to Christendom today?
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Posted by: unum -
Jul. 28, 2016 10:06 AM ET USA
The Holy Father is off base on his assertion that we are not in a "religious war". When other religions are told to convert or die, that is a religious war. I would also refer Pope Francis to the many scholars who have asserted that Islam is the only world religion that does not subscribe to an admonition to "love your brother (of a different faith)."
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Jul. 27, 2016 10:58 PM ET USA
"...a war over...the domination of peoples." Right. Islamic domination over everyone else. But let's not call it a religious war.
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Posted by: feedback -
Jul. 27, 2016 7:29 PM ET USA
When someone sets to kill as many "infideles" as possible believing in Heavenly reward for the killings, how is his going to war not motivated by religious beliefs?
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Posted by: timothy.op -
Jul. 27, 2016 7:14 PM ET USA
This seems to be a case of careless equivocation: It may be true to say that AUTHENTIC religion seeks peace, but then there are countless forms of distorted religion, some of which are obviously violent. Distorted religion (such as militant Islam) clearly poses an undeniable danger, as Pope Benedict XVI point out in his brilliant address at Regensburg. Pope Francis ought to read it.
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Posted by: Travelling -
Jul. 27, 2016 6:11 PM ET USA
I have to agree with Lucius49. There is a best a dangerous naivety in the Holy Father which goes beyond trying to understand others. We are in significant danger and are entitled to defend ourselves.
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Posted by: mclom -
Jul. 27, 2016 6:08 PM ET USA
The Pope should sit down and read an old English translation of the Qur'an and the Sunna. The modern ones, at least in Birmingham UK, whitewash the difficult passages. However, the Arabic cannot be whitewashed, which is why a non-"taqqiya" inspired translation pre 1980s is best. Pope Francis needs help. I cannot understand him at all. Surely the sign of a good shepherd is that his flock understands him?
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Posted by: JimKcda -
Jul. 27, 2016 6:07 PM ET USA
I suppose the "Battle of Lepanto" was just a naval battle, Our Lady did not interced, the rosary didn't really matter and Pope Pius V was lying about it being a "religious war" against Islam. And I wonder if Our Lady of Fatima did not actually appear to the children and warn of WWIII. And the radical Muslims decided to invade a Catholic Church and kill the priest during Mass just because they are violent men seeking power and money etc. Hummn...
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Posted by: Lucius49 -
Jul. 27, 2016 4:06 PM ET USA
This is willful blindness/denial. I fear that the Pope has an intellectual paradigm/template which sadly is ideological and no set of facts seem able to disturb it. I pray that the Pope turns and confirms the brethren! May God assist him.
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Posted by: KC627 -
Jul. 27, 2016 1:22 PM ET USA
I would be interested hear Pope Francis define a "Religious War."
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Posted by: lttanguay6609 -
Jul. 27, 2016 12:08 PM ET USA
I do not understand how the Holy Father cannot see the motivations within Islam. But I do see he continues to blame Capitalism and Global Warming.
