'Faith used to stoke conflicts' say pope, other leaders

(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 5 - Pope Francis on Thursday signed a joint declaration that called for religious harmony for the common good at Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque with the Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar and other religious leaders in a key ceremony of the pontiff's three-day visit to the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.
    The first point of the statement said that the "the global phenomenon of dehumanisation is marked especially by widespread violence and conflict that often cause an alarming number of victims.
    "It is particularly worrying that religion is often instrumentalised in this regard, causing suffering to many, especially women, children and the elderly," it said.
    "The role of religion, however, should include promoting and safeguarding the dignity of every human life", the declaration noted. (ANSA).