Pope rallies religious leaders for world peace

Religious leaders from around the world have joined the pope to pray for peace and proclaim that religion must never be used to justify violence.

About 200 religious leaders answered the pope's invitation, issued after the September 11 attacks, to come to the hillside Italian town of Assisi for a day-long retreat.

They filled a tented arena decorated with a single olive tree, the symbol of peace.

Sitting on a cream-coloured throne, the 81-year-old pontiff told the audience that conflicts often arise because of "an unjustified association of religion with nationalistic, political and economic interests."

"It is essential therefore, that religious people and communities should in the clearest and most radical way repudiate violence," John Paul said. "There is no religious goal which can possibly justify the use of violence by man against man."

Numerous Christian groups joined representatives from 11 other religions, including Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Shintoists and followers of tribal religions.

Assisi is the birthplace of St Francis, the founder of the Roman Catholic Franciscan order, and has hosted papal prayer days twice before: a fast and prayer against nuclear war in 1986 and a rally for Balkan peace in 1993.

This retreat included a "testimony for peace" that was punctuated by Buddhist chants and Christian hymns, prayer sessions, and the communal pledge.

Pope John Paul arrived in Assisi on what has been called the "train of prayers," bringing the religious leaders with him on a two hour trip from the rarely used Vatican train station. Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi greeted the pope at the Assisi station.