Hmmmmm...I would have thought an article like this might have found a few of my fellow bloggers commenting on the Pope's message. As a devout Catholic I think that he hits it right on the money. We need to NOT use religion as a tool of violence and instead find ways to bridge our many gaps so that society and the world as a whole will be a better place for ourselves and our posterity. Religion can be divisive (sad to say it has been since the days before Christ). We forget to live the message because we are so busy telling others that "their" religion is wrong and "ours" is right. I am starting to appreciate this Pope and his leadership more and more.

I agree completely. Religious violence is the number one problem plaguing the world today. Pope Benedict is awesome!

Finding bridges between religions is no easy task. Our Catholic Church has accomplished a great deal of that in its history. But those who consider themselves to be "purists" (aka "fundamentalists" or "orthodox") react negatively to such efforts because they believe the compromises required to emphasize the bridges are diluting the pure doctrine and the "truth". They claim finding common ground on which to build bridges results in theology and practice that can only appeal to the lowest common denominator.

But you and I both know the great Mystery, the Divine Incarnation and Condescension whereby God became Man and the lowest of Men to take upon Himself our sins. We should never be afraid to build bridges and find common ground.

God bless the Pope.

I'm glad the Pope gave this message of tolerance for all religious beliefs. I hope we all take it to heart.

Why should or would muslims listen to the pope.

Don't they consider him an infidel or worse a leader of infidels.

Ya, and why would anyone but Mormons listen to Monson?

Good point.

So the great Pope Benedict XVI told representatives of Islam and other faiths that they must unite to combat religion's role in sinister and indiscriminate violence, did he now?. IN A WAY HE'S RIGHT. First off, more than just harmony between religion and public life is especially important in these days. It goes like this. One does not have to be a parody writer that Mormonizes popular songs to figure this out either. Plus the Pope's "song and dance" has been going on long enough. There's ONLY ONE true Church on Earth and Jesus Christ runs his Church, that church carries his name, it's the LDS Church. ALL THESE OTHER SO CALLED beit Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or whatever faith's, needs to JOIN THE TRUTH CHURCH, team up with them, work with them, and, "GIT-R-DONE" per se, and stop all this evil in our World, while we all are living in it until we die. That's how it's done folks.

Did you miss the part where Sheikh Mohamadu Saleem agreed with Benedict and said there needs to be tolerance all the way around? Surely Muslims, who believe in obedience to Allah and his Sheikhs, would listen to one of their own leaders. It's not just Christians who are saying the world needs more religious tolerance.

However - it was earlier this year that the pope stated that the only true Christians were those of the catholic faith and that all others whether they be baptist, mormon, jw, methodists as well as many others ARE NOT christians. All of a sudden he makes a blanket statement to include all christians.

I don't care if my neighbor is atheist, jewish, jw or even baptist I still love them as they are my brother or sister with or without Christ in their life. I may not agree with ALL the teachings of the church they attend but we live in harmony.

the Pope. It's always good to read about positive agendas to promote peace in this sad world...

The Pope has a timely and important message. I hope people of ALL faiths take it to heart. Just like I wish people all over would listen to what pres. Monson says in General Conference.

And as for us Mormons, I'm looking forward to the day when at least the "faithful" comply with the D&C 98:16 counsel to "renounce war and proclaim peace".

We were not called to judge people, but to give them an opportunity to receive the fullness.

Chuck,

Your attitude is the root cause of religious violence.

You are part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Shame on you for failing to follow the counsel of the Pope as well as the leaders of the LDS Church.