VATICAN CITY, Feb 23: Pope John Paul II condemned “terrorism and the logic of war” during service on Sunday, and called on Catholics to fast and pray for peace on Ash Wednesday.

“It is the duty of the faithful, whatever their religion may be, to proclaim that they can never be happy opposing one another. The future of humanity can never be ensured by terrorism and the logic of war,” the pope said in prayers read from his apartments above St Peter’s Square.

The pontiff called on the Roman Catholic faithful to direct their prayers and fasting on Ash Wednesday — March 5 — for peace, “especially in the Middle East”. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, seven weeks before Easter, when fasting begins and the faithful mark their foreheads with ash in memory of the dead.—AFP