Pope Francis has repeated his controversial teaching that all religions are divinely inspired by God.

In a message to an interreligious gathering in Paris for peace,Pope Francis wrote that the divine inspiration is present in every faith.

The remarks of the Pontiff contradicted those of his predecessors who held that “it is contrary to the Catholic faith to consider the different religions of the world as ways of salvation complementary to the Church".

They came in a written message this week to the International Meeting of Prayer for Peace, an event in Paris organised by the Sant’Egidio Community.