The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Pope uses visit to urge imams to preach peace
Egypt: Francis makes appeal after spate of deadly attacks
The Pope has urged Egypt’s leading imams to teach their students to reject violence in God’s name and preach messages of peace and tolerance instead.
Francis spoke out during a delicate visit to the Arab world’s most populous country after a spate of deadly Islamic militant attacks against Christians.
He arrived to a subdued welcome and a heavy police presence at Cairo’s international airport, but he brushed off security concerns by driving into town with his windows rolled down in a simple blue Fiat – not the armoured “popemobiles” of his predecessors.
His first event was a landmark visit to Cairo’s AlAzhar university, the revered 1,000-year-old seat of Sunni Islam learning that trains clerics and scholars.
He warmly embraced Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, AlAzhar’s grand imam who hosted the Pope and other senior Muslim and Christian leaders at a peace conference.
Speaking to the crowd, Francis recalled Egypt’s ancient civilisations valued the quest for knowledge and that a similar commitment is required today to combat the “barbarity” of religious extremism among the young.
While Al-Azhar has strongly condemned Islamic fundamentalism, Egypt’s pro-government media has accused its leadership of failing to do enough to reform the religious discourse in Islam and purge canonical books of outdated teachings and hatred for non-Muslims.
“As religious leaders, we are called to unmask violence that masquerades as purported sanctity,” Francis said to applause from the crowd. “Let us say once more a firm and clear ‘No’ to every form of violence, vengeance and hatred carried out in the name of religion or in the name of God.”
Sheikh el-Tayeb thanked Francis for what he called his “fair” comments against charges of terror and violence levelled against Muslims and Islam.
“We need to cleanse religions from wrong notions.”