Pope: Religious leaders must unite to defeat ‘barbarity’

Leaders of all faiths should unite in renouncing religious extremism and counter the “barbarity of those who foment hatred and violence,” Pope Francis said at the start of a two-day visit to Cairo today.

“Let us say once more a firm and clear ‘No!’ to every form of violence, vengeance and hatred carried out in the name of religion or in the name of God,” the pope told a peace conference at Egypt’s highest Islamic authority, Al-Azhar.

Francis’ trip, aimed at improving ties between Muslims and Roman Catholics, comes three weeks after Daesh suicide bombers killed at least 45 people in two Egyptian churches.