In speech to Congress, Pope calls for balance in fighting extremism

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pope Francis called for a “delicate balance” in fighting religious extremism to ensure that fundamental freedoms aren’t trampled at the same time.

In his speech to Congress, the pontiff said that “no religion is immune from forms of individual delusion or ideological extremism.”

He says religious, intellectual and individual freedoms must be safeguarded, while combating violence perpetrated in the name of religion.

The pope cautioned against simplistically breaking the world into camps of good and evil.

Francis has expressed deep concern about the slaughter of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East at the hands of Islamic extremists, fearing that the Christian presence in the region is risk. He’s dispatched envoys to Iraq with money and other forms of assistance to help refugees.