By Charles Igwe
Pope Francis delivered an address on Wednesday, meeting with members of the Afghan Community Association in Italy at the Vatican. He emphasized that religion should never be used to incite hatred and violence but should instead promote fraternity and harmony among all people.
“No one can invoke God’s name to foment contempt, hatred, and violence towards others,” Pope Francis declared firmly. This meeting took place ahead of his General Audience, where he reinforced his longstanding stance against the misuse of religion for divisive and destructive purposes.
The Pope began his address by acknowledging the severe hardships Afghanistan has endured over the past decades. He spoke of the country’s instability, warfare, internal divisions, and the systematic violation of basic human rights, which have forced many Afghans into exile. He lamented that the ethnic diversity characterizing Afghan society is often exploited as a pretext for discrimination and exclusion, and in some cases, outright persecution.
Pope Francis highlighted the critical situation at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, where many Afghans, including the ethnic Pashtun minority, have sought refuge. He pointed out that the Pashtun community, despite being the majority ethnic group in Afghanistan, faces abuse and discrimination. He underscored the need for religion to bridge divides and foster an environment where everyone is granted full citizenship rights without discrimination.
In this challenging context, Pope Francis stressed that religion should help mitigate differences and create inclusive spaces. He warned against the manipulation of religion as a tool for hatred, which fuels confrontation and leads to violence. Instead, he encouraged the Afghan network members to persist in their noble endeavors to promote religious harmony and work towards overcoming misunderstandings between different faiths. He urged them to build paths of trusting dialogue and peace.
Reflecting on the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which he signed in Abu Dhabi in 2019 alongside the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Pope Francis reiterated that religions must never incite war, hateful attitudes, hostility, or extremism. He emphasized that such actions are deviations from true religious teachings and often result from political manipulation.
Pope Francis expressed his fervent hope that the principles of dialogue, mutual cooperation, and reciprocal understanding will become a common heritage, shaping people’s thinking and behavior. He remarked that applying these standards in Pakistan could benefit the Pashtun community and others facing discrimination.
In conclusion, Pope Francis invoked divine assistance for government leaders and people striving to build societies where all are accorded full citizenship with equal rights, where everyone can live according to their own customs and culture without abuses of power or discrimination. He urged for a collective effort to foster a world where peace and mutual respect prevail.
