Papal Plea: Never Use Religion as a Reason for Conflict

VATICAN CITY, SEP 23, 2001 (VIS) - John Paul II traveled this morning from Astana’s apostolic nunciature to the Square of the Motherland, where at 10:30 a.m. he celebrated Mass with the ordinaries of Kazakhstan, guest bishops and priests working in the country, and the prelates in the papal entourage.

The monument which overlooks the square is a symbol of the Motherland and depicts a woman with a chalice at the foot of a large shaft of wheat. It bears the date of June 9, 1945, the end of the Second World War.

“In the name of the one God,” the Pope said in his homily before more than 30,000 people, the majority of whom were Muslims, “I turn to the people of deep and ancient religious traditions, the people of Kazakhstan. I turn as well to those who belong to no religion and to those who are searching for truth.”

“Humanity’s homeland,” he exclaimed, “is the Kingdom of heaven! How compelling it is for us to ponder this truth in this place, in the Square which bears the name of the Mother Land.” He added that the tenth anniversary of independence in the country invites reflection on the link “between this earthly homeland, with its values and goals, and the heavenly homeland, into which the whole human family is called to enter beyond every injustice and conflict.”

The Holy Father emphasized that “Christians are both inhabitants of this world and citizens of the Kingdom of heaven. They commit themselves wholeheartedly to the building of earthly society, but they remain focused upon the good things of eternity. . . . Christianity does not lead to alienation from the tasks of this earth. If at times, in some quite particular situations, it gives this impression, that is because many Christians do not live as they should. But in truth, when it is lived as it should be, Christianity is a leaven in society.”

“In this celebration,” he continued, “we want to pray for Kazakhstan and its inhabitants, so that this vast nation, with all its ethnic, cultural and religious variety, will grow stronger in justice, solidarity and peace. May it progress thanks to the collaboration, in particular, between Christians and Muslims, committed day by day, side by side, in the effort to fulfill God’s will.”

“Yet prayer,” the Pope affirmed, “must always be accompanied by appropriate works. Following Christ’s example, the Church never separates evangelization from human promotion, and she urges the faithful in every circumstance to work for social renewal and progress.” He concluded by recalling that “respect for each one’s rights, even when that person has different personal beliefs, is the foundation of all truly human harmony.”

After the Mass and before the recitation of the Angelus, John Paul II entrusted to Mary “all of you: Christians and non-Christians, believers and non-believers,” and asked that she help them “to accomplish in your daily lives Christ’s command: ‘Love one another’, which is the guiding theme of this pastoral visit of mine.”

The Holy Father, speaking English, then made an appeal for peace in the world:

“From this city, from Kazakhstan, a country that is an example of harmony between men and women of different origins and beliefs, I wish to make an earnest call to everyone, Christians and the followers of other religions, to work together to build a world without violence, a world that loves life, and grows in justice and solidarity. We must not let what has happened lead to a deepening of divisions. Religion must never be used as a reason for conflict.

“From this place, I invite both Christians and Muslims to raise an intense prayer to the One, Almighty God whose children we all are, that the supreme good of peace may reign in the world. May people everywhere, strengthened by divine wisdom, work for a civilization of love, in which there is no room for hatred, discrimination or violence.

“With all my heart I beg God to keep the world in peace. Amen.”

He then greeted the faithful present in Kazakh, Polish, and German, and addressed in a special way the pilgrims of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and other countries, who came to participate in the ceremony.

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