Pope Francis in a trip to Turkey on Friday called on people of all religions to join forces in rooting out the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, saying discrimination makes it easier for the terrorist organization to recruit new members.
“Fanaticism and fundamentalism, as well as irrational fears which foster misunderstanding and discrimination, need to be countered by the solidarity of all believers,” Francis said in a televised address in the predominantly Muslim nation.
“To this end, it is essential that all citizens — Muslim, Jewish and Christian — both in the provision and practice of the law, enjoy the same rights and respect the same duties,” he added. “They will then find it easier to see each other as brothers and sisters who are traveling the same path, seeking always to reject misunderstandings while promoting cooperation and concord.”
The pope has devoted much of his time of late to condemning the Islamic State’s brutal techniques, particularly their use of beheadings and treatment of women.
His visit represented just the fourth time a pope has visited a Muslim-majority nation.
The trip was billed primarily as a way to bolster the dialogue between Muslim and Christian communities.
The Obama administration has also called on the Turkish government to do more to aid the U.S.-led air campaign against the Islamic State. Turkey is seen as a breeding ground for the terrorist group, due mostly to the nation’s proximity to Syria.
