Vatican foreign minister warns against Islamophobia

January 27, 2016

The Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States has told Le Figaro that the Holy See “does not wish in any way to nourish Islamophobia.”

“We believe in dialogue with Islam,” said Archbishop Paul Gallagher. “This dialogue is sometimes difficult.”

Archbishop Gallagher said that the Holy See’s position on the Islamic State is that it is morally legitimate to disarm the aggressor using proportionate means and that states have the right to protect their citizens. At the same time, a military solution alone is “not sufficient.”

“Countries have the right to regulate immigration,” he continued, as he discussed Europe’s refugee crisis, though nations with a “very low birth rate” should remember that “they need immigrants for their future.”

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Mgr Gallagher: «Le Saint-Siège ne veut pas nourrir l'islamophobie» (Le Figaro)
• No all’islamofobia, sì al dialogo (L’Osservatore Romano, p. 7)