Pope Francis denies that Islam is violent

On the papal plane returning from World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, Pope Francis denied that Islam itself is violent and insisted that the potential for violence lies within every religion, including Catholicism.



Pope Francis answers reporters questions on board the flight from Krakow, Poland, to Rome, at the end of his 5-day trip to southern Poland, Sunday, July 31, 2016. (Credit: Filippo Monteforte/Pool Photo via AP.)

Inés San MartínJuly 31, 2016
VATICAN CORRESPONDENT

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE - Pope Francis on Sunday defended his avoidance of the term “Islamic violence” by suggesting the potential for violence lies in every religion, including Catholicism.

“I don’t like to talk about Islamic violence, because every day, when I read the newspaper, I see violence,” Francis said, when asked about why he never speaks of Islamic terrorism or fundamentalism when condemning attacks such as the murder of a French priest last week, who had his throat slit by an Islamic terrorist as he was celebrating Mass.

The pope said that when he reads the newspaper, he reads about an Italian who kills his fiancé or his mother in law.

“They are baptized Catholics. They are violent Catholics,” Francis said, adding that if he speaks of “Islamic violence,” then he has to speak of “Catholic violence” too.

https://cruxnow.com/world-youth-day-krakow/2016/07/31/pope-francis-denies-islam-violent/