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                                  VIS-Press releases   
      
   RELIGIOUS LEADERS INVITED TO JOIN POPE IN ASSISI IN OCTOBER   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 1 JAN 2011 (VIS) - Following this morning's Mass celebrated in   
   the Vatican Basilica, the Pope appeared at the window of his study to address   
   faithful gathered below in St. Peter's Square for the first Angelus of 2011.   
      
   The Holy Father remarked how "on this day the Church invokes the gift of peace   
   from God through Jesus Christ. It is the World Day of Peace, an appropriate   
   occasion to reflect together on the great challenges our age places before   
   humankind.   
      
   "One of these challenges, which has become dramatically pressing over these   
   days is that of religious freedom", he added. "Today we are witnessing two   
   opposing tendencies, two equally negative extremes: on the one hand laicism   
   which deviously seeks to marginalise religion and confine it to the private   
   sphere and, on the other, fundamentalism which seeks to impose it on everyone   
   by use of force".   
      
   "Wherever religious freedom is effectively recognised the dignity of the human   
   being is respected at its roots and, through a sincere search for truth and   
   goodness, moral conscience is fortified and the institutions of civil   
   coexistence strengthened. For this reason religious freedom is the highway to   
   follow to build peace".   
      
   "By looking to the One Who is the 'Prince of peace' we understand that peace   
   cannot be achieved by arms, nor through economic, political, cultural or media   
   power. Peace is the work of consciences which open to truth and love. May God   
   help us to continue along this path in the new year He has granted us to live".   
      
   After praying the Angelus, the Pope recalled that his message for the World Day   
   of Peace had highlighted how "the great religions can represent an important   
   factor for the unity and peace of the human family. In this context", he said,   
   "I also noted that the year 2011 will mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the   
   World Day of Prayer for Peace which the Venerable John Paul II called in   
   Assisi, Italy, in 1986. For this reason, in the coming month of October, I will   
   make a pilgrimage to the town of St. Francis, inviting my Christian brethren of   
   different confessions, leaders of the world's religious traditions and, in   
   their hearts, all men and women of good will, to join me on this journey in   
   order to commemorate that important historical gesture of my predecessor, and   
   solemnly to renew the commitment of believers of all religions to live their   
   religious faith as a service to the cause of peace. Those who are journeying   
   towards God cannot fail to transmit peace; those who build peace cannot fail to   
   move towards God. I invite you, even now, to support this initiative with your   
   prayers".   
   ANG/VIS 20110103 (460)   
      
   SUMMARY   
      
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    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)