Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis believes dialogue with the Islamic State is possible, although it is difficult, as the door is never completely closed.

“Never give up anything for lost, never,” the Pope (above) said in response to a question posed by international reporters on the Papal plane back from his visit to the European Parliament yesterday. “Possibly you can’t have dialogue but never close a door.”

Although dialogue might be challenging—‘you could say almost impossible’— the ‘door is always open, no?’

Pope Francis responded to six questions posed to him in Italian during a brief press conference held on his return flight from Strasbourg, France, where he addressed the local seat of European Parliament as well as that of the European Council.

In his response to the question on terrorism, the Pope noted how the journalist twice used the word threat when asking about ‘the terroristic threat and the threat of slavery,’ particularly the slavery of human trafficking.

“It’s true,” the Holy Father said. “Terrorism is a reality and also a threat. But, slavery is a reality inserted in the social fabric of today (and has been) for a long time.”

The Pope added that the phenomenon of human trafficking is ‘a drama’ that often involves the sale of children. He encouraged the handful of journalists present not to ‘close our eyes’ to the daily reality of slavery, which exploits people.

Terrorism, on the other hand, has another aspect besides the terrorists we are familiar with, and that is ‘the terrorism of states,’ the pontiff said. “When things increase more and more and every state, for its part, feels the right to massacre terrorists and with the terrorists there are so many innocent people who fall. This is a high-level anarchy which is very dangerous.”

He explained that terrorism needs to be fought, and repeated what he said during the in-flight press conference on his way back from South Korea: “When you need to stop the unjust aggressor, you have to do it with international consensus. No nation has the right to stop an unjust aggressor on its own.”

Pope Francis also responded to a question about a situation unfolding in Granada, Spain, in which three priests have been accused of abusing a youth over a decade ago.

The alleged victim, now a 24-year-old man, wrote a letter to the Vatican speaking of his abuse. He received a call from Pope Francis, who encouraged him to go to local authorities, and has already filed a lawsuit against the three priests, who have been removed from their ministry.

When asked how he received the news of the alleged abuse, Pope Francis said that he took it with ‘great sorrow.’

“Really deep sorrow,” he answered. “But, the truth is the truth and we shouldn’t hide it.” The Pope said that he called the young man and told him ‘you go to the bishop tomorrow,’ and also wrote the bishop telling him to ‘begin the work, to make an investigation and move forward.’

On his return journey from Strasbourg, Pope Francis also discussed his devotion to St Joseph, his intention return to France for a longer pastoral trip next year, and how the social doctrine of the Church aligns with the Gospel rather than a political party.

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