THE Archbishop of York has challenged people to learn from the events of September 11.

The call was made by Dr David Hope when he gave a sermon at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin yesterday.

In the first in a series of special sermons for Lent - aimed at challenging the Christian churches, as well as politicians, economists and community leaders - Dr Hope urged the Church to find the "seeking, searching and surfing generation".

He also called on people to look at the value of faith in their lives, and to shun idolatry, adding there had never been a more appropriate time to come to terms with who we are as people.

Dr Hope said he believed there was a vacuum in many people's lives as they search for answers to "questions about the beginning and ending of all things, the nature and meaning of life, and not least in the wake of those terrible and tragic events of September 11, the outworking of which - economically, socially, politically and in all manner of ways continues throughout the world".

Condemning the "modern idolatry of lust, greed, power and pride", Dr Hope said a safe and secure world would only result if humans engaged in the challenge to look again at the way we live our lives.

He stressed the basic point that God is out there in the world, offering his love to those who seek it.

Updated: 11:51 Monday, February 18, 2002