Pope John Paul, who has appealed to followers of all faiths to work together for peace, is due to fly to Armenia from Kazakhstan Tuesday to preach religious tolerance. The Pontiff's 95th trip outside Italy has been dominated by his concerns that the world may be sliding into war following the suicide attacks on New York and Washington two weeks ago.
The 81-year-old Pope, who has appeared extremely tired at times during his trip, spoke on his final day in mostly Muslim Kazakhstan Monday of the great respect the Catholic Church had for Islam.
The Pope told Kazakh intellectuals terrorism profaned God.
"I wish to reaffirm the Catholic Church's respect for Islam, for authentic Islam, the Islam that prays, that is concerned for those in need," he said.
Security was tight in Kazakhstan, whose southern border lies just 180 miles from Afghanistan, base of Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, who Washington has named as prime suspect for the September 11 attacks.
But in Armenia, officials said they had made no special security arrangements for the Pope's two-day visit to the country in addition to those already planned.
The Pope will join celebrations to mark the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity in the Caucasian state. Bureau Report