Pope calls for vigilance against 'every type of fundamentalism'

Pope Francis on Thursday called for global vigilance against fundamentalism of all kinds, but warned a "delicate balance" must be struck between fighting extremists and preserving religious freedoms.

"We know that no religion is immune from forms of individual delusion or ideological extremism. This means that we must be especially attentive to every type of fundamentalism, whether religious or of any other kind," the pope told US lawmakers.

"A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms."