‘I do not like to talk about Islamic violence because every day when I skim the papers.
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“You told us that all religions seek peace, yet he was killed in the name of Islam”, a reporter said, referring to comments the pope had made en route to Poland on Wednesday.
Francis said that he saw violence “every day” in the Italian press and that such acts were committed by members of his own religion. “It is not right and it is not true”.
Faithful wait for the arrival of Pope Francis on the occasion of a mass at conclusion of the World Youth Day inKrakow in Poland, on Sunday, July 31, 2016.
Pope Francis was responding to a question about an ISIS-linked attack on a church last week in which knife-wielding attackers slit the throat of a priest.
“They are baptized Catholics. If I had tried to resist, then there would have been consequences”.
I had a long conversation with the imam, the Grand Imam of the Al-Azhar University, and I know how they think.
The church attack became the first of its kind for the Islamic State group when two men, whom the group subsequently hailed as among their soldiers, stormed a Catholic church in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen, Normandy on Tuesday morning.
The attackers, who claimed they were with ISIS, killed a priest. Not all Muslims are violent.
He also emphasized the importance of a “dialogue between past and future” and said older and younger generations must learn to speak to and learn from each other.
He enjoys speaking with young people because they “tell me things that I haven’t thought of, or that I’ve partly thought of”.
“When there’s so much death around us, seeing different cultures expressing their faith together, allows you to you realise that there are still people finding the meaning of their life in Christ”, he said.
Pope Francis celebrated mass with over 1.5 million pilgrims in a vast sun-drenched field in Poland, wrapping up an emotionally charged trip with some choice technological metaphors.
“Think about it!” The Pope refused to stop at that.
Pope Francis dropped in at World Youth Day 2016 where he warned today’s technology had its dangers, chastising “drowsy and boring kids who confuse happiness with a sofa”, and urging them to get out and live life rather than spending it glued to their smartphones.
Before the vigil, Pope Francisco has had other meetings and events.
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During his five-day pilgrimage in southern Poland he prayed privately in a church that God protect people from the “devastating wave” of terrorism in many parts of the world.
