Keep God, religion in society, Pope tells French

POPE Benedict XVI began a four-day visit to France with a plea to the French to keep God in their lives and let religion help create a better world.

Meeting with President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace in Paris, the German-born pontiff praised France both for the deep Christian roots of its culture and the “serene and positive dialogue” between faith and power.

Sarkozy, who has broken a political taboo by speaking openly and positively about the role of religion in society, said it would be “a folly” for France to ignore its long history of Christian thought about God, man and nature.