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.
But others, including Muslim and Jewish figures in Paris, expressed appreciation that he reached out to them.
Benedict also expressed concern over human rights, from “conception to natural death,” Vatican phrasing for abortion and euthanasia.
On the steps of Notre Dame Cathedral at nightfall, he told 60,000 young people, many of them overjoyed at seeing him, that they must be on guard against “a superficial faith and a dissolute morality.” The Associated Press
