CSDC 515

It is a profanation and a blasphemy to declare oneself a terrorist in God's name.¹⁰⁸⁶ Cf. John Paul II, Address to Representatives from the World of Culture, Art and Science, Astana, Kazakhstan (24 September 2001), 5: L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, 26 September 2001, p. 7. In such cases, God, and not only man, is exploited by a person who claims to possess the totality of God's truth rather than one who seeks to be possessed by the truth. To define as “martyrs” those who die while carrying out terrorist attacks distorts the concept of martyrdom, which is the witness of a person who gives himself up to death rather than deny God and his love. Martyrdom cannot be the act of a person who kills in the name of God. No religion may tolerate terrorism and much less preach it.¹⁰⁸⁷ Cf. John Paul II, Message for the 2002 World Day of Peace, 7: AAS 95AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See) (2002), 135-136. Rather, religions must work together to remove the causes of terrorism and promote friendship among peoples¹⁰⁸⁸ Cf. “Decalogue of Assisi for Peace”, 1, in the Letter addressed by John Paul II to Heads of State and of Government on 24 February 2002: L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, 6 March 2002, p. 12..