THIS IS THE SUMMARY OF THE SPEECH OF HIS HOLINESS AT THE 2ND ATHENS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL PLURALISM AND PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST (Oct. 29-31, 2017)

The Middle East  has been the birth place of three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It has also been the homeland of so many cultures, ethnicities and civilizations. These diversities that have characterized the history of the region have often generated tensions, polarizations and conflicts. Religion sometime has been used for non-religious purposes. The…