The pope emphasized the importance of showing respect to any book that is regarded as holy, as a means of honoring and showing consideration for those who hold beliefs associated with it.
In an interview with the UAE’s newspaper al-Ittihad on Monday, Pope Francis said he slams the authorization of the burning of the Quran. He added that such irresponsible acts make him angry.
The pope asserted that it is crucial to show respect for any book regarded as sacred, as a means of demonstrating respect towards those who hold a belief in it. He expressed his feelings of anger and disgust towards such actions.
This statement is termed the first major comment made by the leader of the Catholic Church regarding the incident of burning Quran copies in Sweden.
He asserted that permitting such actions is unacceptable and deserving of condemnation. He emphasized that while freedom of expression is important, it should not be utilized as a justification for causing offense to others.
“Our mission is to transform the religious sense into cooperation, fraternity, and tangible acts of goodness.”
The remarks are based on the incident where a man tore up and burned a Quran in Stockholm last week. It resulted in strong condemnation from different countries across the globe.
Despite the efforts of Swedish police to reject multiple recent applications for anti-Qur’an demonstrations, the decisions made by the courts have subsequently overruled these rejections, citing concerns about potential infringement upon freedom of speech. The courts have emphasized that the right to freedom of expression should be upheld, even in cases where it may involve offensive or controversial viewpoints.
The Islamic grouping of 57 states called for unified efforts on Sunday, emphasizing the necessity for collective measures to prevent acts of desecration of the Quran. They further advocated for the utilization of international law to curb religious hatred and promote respect for all faiths.
