Pope Francis' final stop in Kazakhstan was once again to the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
It's final declaration was out by the Anglican bishop, Jo Bailey Wells. The text is not limited to religious matters, but it also firmly condemns current dynamics in the world that lead to war. While the war in Ukraine was not explicitly stated, allusions to the conflict were clear.
We call upon world leaders to abandon all aggressive and destructive rhetoric which leads to destabilization of the world, and to cease from conflict and bloodshed in all corners of our world.
The statement condmned the use of religion to justify violence, and the 13th point of the declaration recognized the importance of the document on human fraternity signed by the Pope and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in 2019.
Pope Francis was invited as the congress' guest of honor, and said that it was important for religious leaders to actively react to the 9/11 attakcs, or else religion would be seen as inherently violent.
At the same time, he condemned the fact that religious practice cannot be lived out freely in all parts of the world.
POPE FRANCIS
How many people are still persecuted and discriminated against for their faith? We have strongly asked that governments and international organizations able to help religious groups and ethnic communities whose human rights and fundamental freedoms have been violated.
The Pope called for religious liberty to not be an abstract concept, but rather a definitive right. He then ended the 38th international trip of his pontificate by reflecting on the value of strengthening the relationship between religion and politics today.
JRB
TR: JM
