Pope Benedict XVI has told a meeting of over 250 Roman Catholic bishops at the Vatican that it is hypocritical to exclude religion from public life.
'A tolerance which allows God as a private opinion but which excludes Him from public life, from the reality of the world and our
lives, is not tolerance but hypocrisy,' the Pope said.
'When man makes himself the only master of the world and master of himself, justice cannot exist. Then, arbitrariness, power and interests rule,' the Pope added.
The Pope made the comments in his homily at an 8am mass in St Peter's Basilica which began the three-week bishops' meeting or synod, the first of the 78-year-old's papacy.
Around 250 bishops from across the world are gathered for discussions with Pope Benedict XVI on the problems facing the Roman Catholic Church.
The Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Sean Brady, and the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, are attending on behalf of the Irish Bishops Conference.
The synod is expected to focus largely on theological issues linked to the Eucharist.
The gathering will also touch on abortion and divorce, as well as attendance at Sunday mass.
