Pope, Pakistani president meet in Italy, stress need to end religious discrimination

Pope meets Pakistan president at summer retreat

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy — The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI and the president of Pakistan discussed the need to end religious discrimination during a meeting at the papal summer retreat.

Tensions have flared in recent months between Pakistan’s Muslim minority and its religious minorities. In one case, eight Christians were burned to death by a Muslim mob after reports that a Quran had been desecrated.

The pope and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari met Thursday in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.

The Vatican said the two stressed “the need to overcome all forms of discrimination based on religious affiliation, with the aim of promoting respect for the rights of all.”

Non-Muslims make up less than 5 percent of Pakistan’s 175 million people.