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Pontiff Advocates Greater Role For Religion In Society

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The Associated Press

Published: September 13, 2008

PARIS - Pope Benedict XVI encouraged a greater role for religion in European society but cautioned against fanaticism as he met Friday with political, Jewish and Muslim leaders in his first papal visit to France.

In separate remarks to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Benedict also called for more attention to the role of faith in shaping consciences and forging "a basic ethical consensus within society."

France is fiercely proud of its secular division between church and state, and some staunch proponents of that stance were angered by the pope's remarks on the opening day of a four-day pilgrimage.

Others, including Muslim and Jewish figures in Paris, expressed appreciation that he reached out to them.

Benedict also expressed concern over human rights ranging from "conception to natural death," Vatican phrasing for abortion and euthanasia.

On the steps of Notre Dame cathedral at nightfall, where he said Mass for an audience of young people, he told 60,000 youths they must be on guard against "a superficial faith and a dissolute morality."

Several Muslim leaders were among the 600 or so people invited to hear the pope speak about Europe and culture during an evening appearance at a former monastery where monks in medieval times sought to keep learning alive on the continent.

A papal spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said earlier in the week that the pope sought to meet representatives of various religions, as he often does on foreign trips.

France's population of Jews and Muslims is the largest in Western Europe.

Jews asked to meet before the culture speech with the pope because of restrictions for the Jewish Sabbath.

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