Pope Francis has called on Muslim leaders to condemn violence in order to eliminate the unfortunate stereotype linking Islam with terrorism.
The Pontiff made his statement on a flight from Turkey, where he’s spent three days discussing divisions between faiths, reports the BBC.
He rejected those who say that “all Muslims are terrorists … [just] as we cannot say that all Christians are fundamentalists.”
During a visit at the Blue Mosque, the Pope stopped for two minutes turned towards Mecca, folded his hands and listened as the Grand Mufti of Istanbul gave a Muslim prayer.
Together with Patriarch Bartholomew I, the 77-year-old also released a joint statement appealing for an end to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, and for peace in Ukraine.
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