Pope, leaders join for prayer

ASSISI, Italy -- Imams, patriarchs, monks and rabbis from around the world joined Pope John Paul II on Thursday to pray for peace in a ceremony designed to proclaim that religion must never be used to justify violence.

In a brilliant display of turbans, caps and veils, about 200 religious leaders answered the pope's invitation, issued following the Sept. 11 attacks, to come to the pilgrimage town of Assisi for a daylong retreat.

They filled a tented arena that was decorated with a single olive tree, the symbol of peace.

Sitting on a cream-colored throne, the 81-year-old pontiff told the audience that conflicts often arise because of "an unjustified association of religion with nationalistic, political and economic interests."