Pope Francis: Fundamentalism a 'Sickness That is in All Religions'

Pope Francis recently discussed religious fundamentalism as a "sickness that is in all religions" following his three-day visit to Africa.

The pontiff made his comments to reporters after visiting Kenya, the Central African Republic, and Uganda on a six-day visit.

"We Catholics have some — and not some, many — who believe they possess the absolute truth and go ahead dirtying the other with calumny, with disinformation, and doing evil. They do evil. I say this because it is my Church," the pope reportedly told reporters on the flight back to the Vatican from Africa, as reported by the Catholic News Service.

"We have to combat it," the pope continued, adding "Religious fundamentalism is not religious, because it lacks God. It is idolatry, like the idolatry of money."

The pope also spoke of the importance of remaining peaceful between religions during his Africa visit, especially when visiting a mosque in the Central African Republic.

After visiting the mosque, the pontiff stressed that "Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters. We must therefore consider ourselves and conduct ourselves as such."

"Those who claim to believe in God must also be men and women of peace. Christians, Muslims and members of the traditional religions have lived together in peace for many years. They ought, therefore, to remain united in working for an end to every act which, from whatever side, disfigures the Face of God and whose ultimate aim is to defend particular interests by any and all means, to the detriment of the common good," Francis added.