Buddhists, Muslims, Yoruba join pope for peace pilgrimage; traditional Catholics condemn it

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By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, October 27, 1:03 PM

ASSISI, Italy — Pope Benedict XVI joined Buddhist monks, Islamic scholars, Hindus and a handful of agnostics in making a communal call for peace Thursday, insisting that religion must never be used as a pretext for war or terrorism.

Benedict welcomed some 300 leaders representing a rainbow of faiths to the hilltop Italian town of Assisi to commemorate the 25th anniversary of a daylong prayer for peace here called by Pope John Paul II in 1986 amid Cold War conflicts.

One by one, the monks, priests and patriarchs stood up and committed themselves to working for dialogue, justice and peace, and for a more equitable and friendly world.

While the event lacked the urgency and star power of 1986, when the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and others came together to pray, Thursday’s peace meeting included some novelties. Buddhist monks from mainland China were on hand as were four participants who profess no faith at all — part of Benedict’s efforts to reach out to agnostics and atheists who are searching for truth.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/buddhists-muslims-yoruba-join-pope-for-peace-pilgrimmage-traditional-catholics-condemn-it/2011/10/27/gIQAqVNRLM_story.html