"In a meeting at the Vatican on 22 October 2001 between Pope John Paul II and Ignatius IV, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, His Beatitude Ignatius IV shared the following message:

...the present moment is marked by the pain that is felt by all humanity. Violence has spread beyond all imagination. Today, of course, we are speaking especially of terrorism, which must be emphatically condemned. But we also have to condemn the violence practised by states against individuals and against other states and, above all, the violence done to the poor. We must show our solidarity with the oppressed who are seeking liberation by resisting the occupiers, and we must work to halt the massacre of the innocent in all the countries where children and old people, or any human beings, are dying gratuitously. Justice, not vengeance must be done.

In promoting this quest for justice, we must join with all men and women of good will, and especially with Muslims, eschewing thoughtless generalizations and primitive reactions. Let us preach harmony among the nations and do all in our power to avoid a clash of civilizations between Muslims and the West.

Your Holiness,

The present troubles may last and bring yet more affliction. The churches are called to become more eloquent in their witness, more urgent and more effective. Our most ardent desire is to call together in prayer and fasting all those who wish to live as Christians according to the gospel, asking that God may have mercy upon us and grant us strength to resist the power of evil which seems to be gaining an ever-greater hold on humanity.

In our common endeavour for the salvation of all, may Jesus, our one Lord, help us to act like true disciples, loving one another and loving our enemies, for only such love can break the spiral of violence and anticipate the fulfilment of the Kingdom.

Ignatius IV
Patriarch of Antioch and All the East"

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