Religion often is misused for purely power-political goals, including war.

In my view, the Catholic Church as a community of faith will be preserved, but only if it abandons the Roman system of rule. We managed to get by without this absolutist system for 1,000 years. The problems began in the 11th century, when the popes asserted their claim to absolute control over the Church.

And a third thing is the understanding of the Church as a community, a communion which is just a hierarchy but the people of God, whose servants are the priests and bishops.

We are conscious that religions cannot solve the economic, political and social problems of this earth.

At the same time we are aware that our various religions and ethical traditions often offer very different bases for what is helpful and what is unhelpful for men and women, what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is evil.

A human person is infinitely precious and must be unconditionally protected.

Humanity today possesses sufficient economic, cultural and spiritual resources to introduce a better global order.