Help defeat terrorism

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Sunday's mass at the Marienfeld in Kerpen yesterday as part of the World Youth jamboree. The mass at Marienfeld park was attended by more than one million Roman Catholics. PHOTO: AFP

"Terrorism of any kind is a perverse and cruel decision which shows contempt for the sacred right to life and undermines the very foundations of all civil society," he said in the prepared text of an address for leaders of Germany's Muslim communities.

In the most straightforward and forceful language he has used on the topic since his election in April, the Pope said the world would be exposed to "the darkness of a new barbarism" unless religions worked together to combat terrorism.

"I am certain that I echo your own thoughts when I bring up as one of our concerns the spread of terrorism," he said.

"Terrorist activity is continually recurring in various parts of the world, sowing death and destruction, and plunging many of our brothers and sisters into grief and despair.