Britain and Vatican Call for 'Cooperation' in Syria
Britain and the Holy See on Wednesday called for an end to violence in Syria and underlined the role of Christians in the Middle East after a British delegation met with Pope Benedict XVI.
The Vatican and Britain in a joint statement appealed for "an immediate end to violence in Syria," and stressed "the need for cooperation to overcome the present crisis" at a joint press conference in the Holy See.
They also called for "real reforms" following the Arab Spring revolutions.
The speech, which drew to a close a visit to mark 30 years since Britain and the Vatican established full diplomatic ties, pointed to "the role which Christians can play and the importance of interreligious dialogue."
The countries also agreed on the urgent need to "strengthen the universal commitment to religious freedom," echoing the British delegation's earlier message that "people need to feel stronger in their religious identities."
Sayeeda Warsi, Britain's first female Muslim cabinet minister and part of the delegation meeting the pope, warned an audience on Tuesday that denial of religious heritage led to intolerance.
"A common language between faiths risks watering down the diversity and intensity of our respective religions. Instead, interfaith dialogue works when we debate our differences," she said.
Warsi described a rise of "militant secularism" in European society which she said "demonstrates similar traits to totalitarian" regimes.
Source: Agence France Presse
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