Pope denounces radicalisation, attacks

Nov 26, 2015

Pope Francis on Thursday denounced radicalisation of young people and "barbarous attacks" carried out in the name of religion during the first leg of his three-nation Africa tour.

Pope Francis on Thursday denounced radicalisation of young people and "barbarous attacks" carried out in the name of religion during the first leg of his three-nation Africa tour.

"His holy name must never be used to justify hatred and violence," Pope Francis said in the Kenyan capital as he met religious leaders of different faiths, citing "barbarous attacks" by Islamic extremists in Nairobi, Garissa and Mandera.

"All too often, young people are being radicalised in the name of religion to sow discord and fear, and to tear at the very fabric of our societies," the pope said nearly two weeks after a group of jihadists, many of them French, killed 130 people in a string of gun and suicide attacks in Paris.

"How important it is that we be seen as prophets of peace, peacemakers who invite others to live in peace, harmony and mutual respect," he said.

Kenya has suffered numerous deadly attacks since sending its army into neighbouring Somalia in 2011 after a string of kidnappings it blamed on Al-Qaeda's east Africa branch, the Shebab.

At least 67 people died in an armed assault on Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall in 2013 and 148 were killed in an attack on a university in Garissa in April.

Pope Francis on Thursday denounced radicalisation of young people and "barbarous attacks" carried out in the name of religion during the first leg of his three-nation Africa tour.

"His holy name must never be used to justify hatred and violence," Pope Francis said in the Kenyan capital as he met religious leaders of different faiths, citing "barbarous attacks" by Islamic extremists in Nairobi, Garissa and Mandera.

"All too often, young people are being radicalised in the name of religion to sow discord and fear, and to tear at the very fabric of our societies," the pope said nearly two weeks after a group of jihadists, many of them French, killed 130 people in a string of gun and suicide attacks in Paris.

"How important it is that we be seen as prophets of peace, peacemakers who invite others to live in peace, harmony and mutual respect," he said.

Kenya has suffered numerous deadly attacks since sending its army into neighbouring Somalia in 2011 after a string of kidnappings it blamed on Al-Qaeda's east Africa branch, the Shebab.

At least 67 people died in an armed assault on Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall in 2013 and 148 were killed in an attack on a university in Garissa in April.

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