Pope wants Christians, Muslims to take anti-violence stance

Pope Benedict XVI said on Wednesday that Muslims and Christians should join forces to stop violence and war. "It seems to me that the time has come for Christians and Muslims to express together a determined stance against violence and war," the pontiff said at his weekly general audience. His comments follow a wave of violence in the Muslim world over an American-produced film that allegedly ridicules Islam's Prophet Mohammed. Benedict last week visited Lebanon, which borders Syria, where a bloody civil war is taking place between opposition groups and government forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. The pope said "Muslims welcomed me with sincere respect and consideration" during his trip to Lebanon, where he saw "clear, strong signs of dialogue".