Pope slams religious extremism

Pope Francis on Sunday expressed his strongest criticism to date of religious extremism during a one-day visit to Albania.

"No one should think they can hide behind God while planning and committing violence and repression," the pope said in his opening speech at the presidential palace in the capital, Tirana.

"May no one use religion as a pretext for actions against human dignity and against the fundamental rights of every man and woman, above all the right to life and the right of everyone to religious freedom," he said.

In his speech, Francis held up Albania - where 60 percent of the population are Muslim, while Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians together make up some 20 percent - as a model of how inter-faith relations can be harmonious.

"The climate of respect and mutual trust between Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims is a precious gift to the country. This is especially the case in these times in which authentic religious spirit is being perverted by extremist groups, and where religious differences are being distorted and instrumentalized," the pope said.

The pontiff's remarks come against the background of a terrorist campaign by jihadist militants of the "Islamic State" (IS) organization in Syria and Iraq, which has seen numerous people killed on the basis of their faith. However, he made no mention of the group by name.

Long religious persecution

During his visit, the pope also intended to honor those who were persecuted and killed under the communist regime of dictator Enver Xoxha, who ruled Albania from 1944 until his death in 1985. More than 100 Catholic priests or bishops were executed or died in detention during the dictatorship, with Xoxha banning religion completely in 1967.

The pope's visit took place under high security, supervised by Albania's Interior Ministry, amid reported threats against his life from Islamist militants. The Vatican insisted that it was taking no special security measures.

After celebrating mass in Tirana's Mother Teresa square, the 77-year-old pontiff was to meet with leaders of various religious communities and visit orphans.

Albania is the first destination chosen by the pope for his first official European trip outside of Italy. He told reporters, on the plane bringing him to Tirana, that he wanted to visit Albania because it had "suffered very, very much".

The last papal visit to the impoverished Balkan country was in 1992, when Pope John Paul II travelled there a year after the collapse of communism in the country.

tj/ksb (dpa, Reuters, AP)