Pope urges action against terrorism

Pope urges action against terrorism

VATICAN: Denouncing a growing scourge of terrorism, Pope John Paul II urged on Saturday political action to combat terror attacks, contending that "brutal measures" of repression alone were not sufficient.

Accepting the credentials of the new Indonesian ambassador to the Holy See, Pope John Paul said that cooperation for the peace and well-being of people at all levels of society had become a "task of unprecedented importance as the entire human family seeks effective means to counteract international terrorism".

"There is no question that this baneful scourge has grown more virulent in recent years, generating brutal measures that serve only to exacerbate a difficult situation, increase tensions and erode possibilities for peace among peoples and nations," the pope said.

"Despite the contempt for human life that such terrorist attacks represent, our response must never be one of hatred or revenge. Nor are measures that are nearly punitive or repressive sufficient," the pontiff said.

"The fight against terrorism must also be conducted at the level of politics and education," John Paul said. "Political mobilization is needed to eliminate the underlying causes of situations of social injustice that can drive people to actions of desperation and violence."

Recalling the 2002 bombings in Indonesia, the pope told the ambassador that the "deep shock felt worldwide 15 months ago when a terrorist bomb exploded in Bali still remains very much present in the mind and heart of the international community". AP