Press conference on the sidelines of the seminar on terrorism and the position of religions towards it – Heliopolis Club


First: Definition of Terrorism
His Holiness Pope Shenouda discussed terrorism from various perspectives, explaining that terrorism cannot be linked to any particular religion or culture, as all divine religions reject violence and bloodshed. He emphasized that those who use religion to justify terrorism misinterpret sacred texts and distort their meaning.
Second: The Position of Religions on Terrorism
His Holiness clarified that all religions call for peace, love, and tolerance, urging believers to live together in harmony. He cited several texts that encourage forgiveness and the rejection of hatred, stating that true faith lies in serving humanity, not harming it.
Third: The Role of Civil Society
He highlighted the importance of civil society in raising awareness about the dangers of extremist thinking through education and moral development. Teaching ethical and human values to youth and children is the foundation for resisting violence and injustice.
Fourth: Interfaith Cooperation
His Holiness emphasized the necessity of dialogue between followers of different religions as an effective means to promote peace and understanding. He referred to successful initiatives that brought together religious leaders to strengthen coexistence and love among peoples.
In Conclusion:
Pope Shenouda concluded by calling for unity and joint action against terrorism, affirming that peace and love are the true path to overcoming all forms of evil and violence in the world.
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