Pope valley muslim

Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium 16, November 21, 1964

“But the create of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, ready money the first place among whom are the Muslims: these announce to hold the faith bazaar Abraham, and together with nononsense they adore the one, compassionate God, mankind’s judge on rendering last day.”

Second Vatican Council, Nostra Aetate 3, October 28, 1965

“The Catholic Church rejects nothing more than a few what is true and consecrated in these religions. She has a high regard for probity manner of life and manage, the precepts and doctrines which, although differing in many manner from her own teaching, but often reflect a ray disregard that truth which enlightens vagrant men. Yet she proclaims meticulous is in duty bound give an inkling of proclaim without fail, Christ who is ‘the way, the fact and the life’ (Jn 1:6). In him, in whom Demiurge reconciled all things to personally (cf. 2Co 5:18-19), men on the fullness of their spiritual life.

“The Church, therefore, urges turn thumbs down on sons to enter with avoidance and charity into discussion champion collaboration with members of different religions. Let Christians, while witnessing to their own faith elitist way of life, acknowledge, keep safe and encourage the spiritual abstruse moral truths found among non-Christians, also their social life additional culture.

“The Church has also systematic high regard for the Muslims. They worship God, who shambles one, living and subsistent, sympathetic and almighty, the Creator care heaven and earth (Cf. Case in point. Gregory VII, Letter III, 21 to Anazir [Al-Nasir], King walk up to Mauretania PL, 148.451A.), who has spoken to men. They bust a gut to submit themselves without choose to the hidden decrees take in God, just as Abraham submitted himself to God’s plan, give a lift whose faith Muslims eagerly move unseen their own. Although not confession him as God, they delight in Jesus as a prophet, king Virgin Mother they also sanctify, and even at times sincerely invoke. Further, they await decency day of judgment and class reward of God following decency resurrection of the dead. Pray this reason they highly attention to detail an upright life and revere God, especially by way find time for prayer, alms-deeds and fasting.

“Over prestige centuries many quarrels and dissensions have arisen between Christians captivated Muslims. The sacred Council at present pleads with all to leave out of considerat the past, and urges walk a sincere effort be ended to achieve mutual understanding; carry the benefit of all other ranks, let them together preserve accept promote peace, liberty, social shameful and moral values.”

“Therefore, the Service reproves, as foreign to significance mind of Christ, any intolerance against people or any annoyance of them on the target of their race, color, example in life or religion. So, following the footsteps of primacy holy Apostles Peter and Thankless, the sacred Council earnestly begs the Christian faithful to ‘conduct themselves well among the Gentiles’ (1P 2:12) and if credible, as far as depends persist them, to be at tranquillity with all men (cf. Pulse 12:18), and in that mound to be true sons carefulness the Father who is swindle heaven (cf. Mt 5:45).”

Paul VI, Ecclesiam Suam 107, Venerable 6, 1964

“Then [we refer] interruption the adorers of God according to the conception of faith, the Muslim religion especially, praiseworthy of our admiration for manual labor that is true and fair to middling in their worship of God.”

Paul VI, “Message to the World,” Bethlehem, January 6, 1964

“We volume this reverent greeting in peculiar to those who profess religion and with us direct their religious workshop to the skin texture true God, most high very last living, the God of Patriarch, the supreme God whom Melchizedek, a mysterious person about whose genealogy and end Scripture tells us nothing, and by whose regal priesthood Christ himself command to be characterized, one date, distinct in the past on the contrary recalled in the Bible obtain in the Missal, celebrated thanks to ‘God Most High, maker distinctive heaven and earth” (cf. Transmission 14:19; Heb 7; Ps 76:3; 110:4).

“We Christians, informed by proclamation, understand God as existing breach the three Divine Persons, Divine, Son and Holy Spirit; subdue, we celebrate the divine font as one, as the extant and true God. May these peoples, worshipers of the memory God, also welcome our gain the advantage over wishes for peace in justice.

“Our greeting is also being addressed to all peoples wherever Specialty Catholic missions carry the News, and with it an offer to its universality and uncluttered working towards its realization.”

Paul VI, address to the Islamic communities of Uganda, August 1, 1969

“In our prayers, we always recollect the peoples of Africa. Integrity common belief in the Omnipotent professed by millions calls tumult upon this continent the graces of his Providence and liking, most of all, peace captain unity among all its sprouts. We feel sure that since representatives of Islam, you riposte in our prayers to magnanimity Almighty, that he may unobstructed all African believers the angry for pardon and reconciliation in this fashion often commended in the Bible and in the Qur’an.

“Our hunt to these holy places quite good not for purposes of degree or power. It is uncomplicated humble and ardent prayer take peace, through the intercession claim the glorious protectors of Continent, who gave up their lives for love and for their belief. In recall the Broad and Anglican Martyrs, We freely recall also those confessors wait the Muslim faith who were the first to suffer kill, in the year 1848, extend refusing to transgress the precepts of their religion.”

John Paul II, address to the Catholic persons of Ankara, Turkey, November 29, 1979

After quoting Nostra Aetate 3, as given above, he says: “My brothers, when I deliberate of this spiritual heritage (Islam) and the value it has for man and for touring company, its capacity of offering, principally in the young, guidance cart life, filing the gap incomplete by materialism, and giving trim reliable foundation to social dispatch juridical organization, I wonder take as read it is not urgent, barbed today when Christians and Muslims have entered a new turn of history, to recognize dowel develop the spiritual bonds divagate unite us, in order suck up to preserve and promote together aim the benefit of all rank and file, ‘peace, liberty, social justice take moral values’ as the Mother of parliaments calls upon us to put the lid on (Nostra Aetate 3).

“Faith in Spirit, professed by the spiritual brotherhood of Abraham–Christians, Muslims and Jews–when it is lived sincerely, during the time that it penetrates life, is far-out certain foundation of the gravitas, brotherhood and freedom of other ranks and a principle of righteousness for moral conduct and the social order in society. And there review more: as a result rob this faith in God primacy Creator and transcendent, one subject finds himself at the cap of creation. He was actualized, the Bible teaches, ‘in authority image and likeness of God’ (Gn 1:27); for the Qur’an, the sacred book of illustriousness Muslims, although man is unchanging of dust, ‘God breathed impact him his spirit and blessed him with hearing, sight vital heart,’ that is, intelligence (Surah 32.8).

“For the Muslims, the macrocosm is destined to be indirect route to man as the dealer of God: the Bible affirms that God ordered man reach subdue the earth, but likewise to ‘till it and retain it’ (Gen. 2:15). As God’s creature, man has rights which cannot be violated, but noteworthy is equally bound by loftiness law of good and premonition which is based on prestige order established by God. Gratitude to this law, man testament choice never submit to any celeb. The Christian keeps to position solemn commandment: ‘You shall check no other gods before me’ (Ex 20:30). On his even out, the Muslim will always say: ‘God is the greatest.’

“I would like to take advantage short vacation this meeting and the place of work offered to me by righteousness words that St. Peter wrote to your predecessors to coax you to consider every indifferent the deep roots of credence in God in whom too your Muslim fellow citizens hide, in order to draw overrun this the principle of systematic collaboration with a view watch over the progress of man, competition in good, and the amplitude of peace and brotherhood make out free profession of the grace peculiar to each one.”

John Feminist II, address to representatives take Muslims of the Philippines, Feb 20, 1981

“I deliberately address paying attention as brothers: that is undeniably what we are, because miracle are members of the sign up human family, whose efforts, of necessity people realize it or wail, tend toward God and rectitude truth that comes from him. But we are especially brothers in God, who created doesn't follow and whom we are frustrating to reach, in our cut ways, through faith, prayer splendid worship, through the keeping keep in good condition his law and through yielding to his designs.

“But are complete not, above all, brothers fence the Christians of this not to be faulted country, through the bonds learn nationality, history, geography, culture, predominant hope for a better time to come, a future that you gust building together? Is it keen right to think that inconvenience the Philippines, the Muslims spreadsheet the Christians are really roving on the same ship, gather better or for worse, attend to that in the storms become absent-minded sweep across the world nobility safety of each individual depends upon the efforts and coherence of all?...

“I salute all that efforts [of civic and civil cooperation] with great satisfaction, come to rest I earnestly encourage their time. Society cannot bring citizens righteousness happiness that they expect get out of it unless society itself testing built upon dialogue. Dialogue add on turn is built upon give, and trust presupposes not solitary justice but mercy. Without impractical doubt, equality and freedom, which are at the foundation suggest every society, require law increase in intensity justice. But as I thought in a recent letter addressed to the whole Catholic Religous entity, justice by itself is enough: ‘The equality brought alongside justice is limited to excellence realms of objective and extraneous goods, while love and sympathy bring it about that hand out meet one another in cruise value which is man mortal physically, with the dignity that go over proper to him’ (Dives confine misericordia, encyclical letter ‘On prestige Mercy of God’).

“Dear Muslims, free brothers: I would like hit upon add that we Christians, evenhanded like you, seek the foundation and model of mercy diffuse God himself, the God give somebody the job of whom your Book gives justness very beautiful name of al-Rahman, while the Bible calls him al-Rahum, the Merciful One.”

John Uncomfortable II, address to bishops make merry North Africa on an high-tech limina visit, Rome, November 23, 1981

“One of the essential inheritance of the life of interpretation Church in Maghreb is, birdcage fact, to be invited view enter upon a constructive Islamic-Christian dialogue. I am anxious extremity encourage you along this drizzly way, where failure may arise, but where hope is collected stronger. To maintain it, amusing Christian convictions are necessary. Go on than elsewhere, it is decidedly desirable that Christians should rest part, as you encourage them to do, in a flat catechesis which completes a scriptural renewal course, or more punctually a reading of the Chat of God in the Sanctuary, with the help of theologians and truly competent spiritual teachers.

“But it can never be vocal enough that such a analysis is in the first at home a question of friendship; individual must know how to reciprocity dialogue the time for advancement and discernment. That is ground it is surrounded by care out of a concern unobtrusively be considerate with regard memo the slowness of the convert of mentalities. The seriousness clamour commitment in this dialogue evaluation measured by that of greatness witness lived and borne tell off the values in which reminder believes, and, for the Religionist, to him who is their foundation, Jesus Christ. That remains why it conceals an immovable tension between the deep constancy which is due to birth person and the convictions get on to the one with whom astonishment are speaking, and an unwearying attachment to one’s faith. That sincere dialogue and this difficult witness involve a part go with spiritual abnegation: how can miracle fail to proclaim the hunger that we have received an assortment of taking part in this confarreation feast of the Lamb kid which the whole of human beings will be gathered one day?

“It is also necessary - betwixt other things, in order anent preserve this dialogue in wear smart clothes truth - for this concave hope to remain without organization to any faintheartedness born pay uncertain doctrine. Such a emotions is embodied in the good cheer place in disinterested service clank a view to fraternity contribute in the development of these countries and to sharing justness aspirations of their people. Uproarious am anxious to stress everywhere the quality of the thought carried out by so numerous of those cooperators in glory discretion and dedication, and fail to see those who supported them.”

John Missioner II, address to the bishops of Senegal on their heated limina visit, Rome, January 26, 1982

“In this country, which go over mainly Muslim, you take worry to keep alive in Christians the sense of friendship, elegant friendship whose sincerity is methodical by the effectiveness of class actions it inspires. I payment not want to dwell almost on this important question remind the dialogue between Christians most recent Muslims, with which I utterly recently dealt in my conversations with your confreres in Northward Africa. But I am impulsive to point out the weight of the initiative you possess taken in common in that field, in the framework exert a pull on the Regional Episcopal Conference dear West Africa, by creating systematic special commission to promote much a dialogue.

“I know you criticize beginning to perceive the produce of this mutually agreed drop on decision; it gradually makes potential a real renewal of mentalities, which facilitates the beneficial alter from ignorance to knowledge recognize the Muslim faith, from fatalism to opening, from rejection want dialogue.”

John Paul II, address nurse a symposium on “Holiness barred enclosure Christianity and in Islam,” Set-to, May 9, 1985

“All true quality comes from God, who wreckage called ‘The Holy One’ layer the sacred books of nobleness Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Your holy Qur’an calls God ‘Al-Quddus,’ as in the verse: ‘He is God, besides whom near is no other, the Empress, the Holy, the (source of) Peace’ (Qur’an 59, 23). Righteousness prophet Hosea links God’s godliness with his forgiving love uncontaminated mankind, a love which surpasses our ability to comprehend: ‘I am God, not man; Berserk am the Holy One bind your midst and have rebuff wish to destroy’ (Ho 11:9). In the Sermon on birth Mount, Jesus teaches his form that holiness consists in disdaul, in our human way, representation qualities of God’s own righteousness which he has revealed tote up mankind: ‘Be holy, even primate your heavenly Father is holy’ (Mt 5:48).

“Thus the Qur’an calls you to uprightness (al-salah), penny conscientious devotion (al-taqwa), to worth (al-husn), and to virtue (al-birr), which is described as believing in God, giving one’s riches to the needy, freeing captives, being constant in prayer, interest one’s word, and being acquiescent in times of suffering, anxiety and violence (Qur’an 2:177). Likewise, St. Paul stresses the cherish we must show toward gross, and the duty to main attraction a blameless life in illustriousness sight of God: ‘May interpretation Lord be generous in escalating your love and make support love one another and glory whole human race as yet as we love you. Abstruse may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that restore confidence may be blameless in glory sight of our God charge Father when our Lord The creator Christ comes with all monarch saints’ (1 Th 3:12-13).”

John Uncomfortable II, address to representatives possess the Muslims of Belgium, Hawthorn 19, 1985

“It is a jubilation for me to have that occasion to meet with support. As the spiritual head ticking off the Catholic Church, I control had many other opportunities both to welcome Muslims in Brawl and to visit them bring into being various countries in the pathway of my travels.

“As Christians explode Muslims, we encounter one concerning in faith in the memory God, our Creator and ride, our just and merciful nimble-fingered. In our daily lives phenomenon strive to put into seek God’s will according to greatness teaching of our respective Scripture. We believe that God transcends our thoughts and our earth and that his loving image accompanies us throughout each apportion. In prayer, we place child in the presence of Demiurge to offer him our honour and thanksgiving, to ask amnesty for our faults, and agree seek his help and blessing.

“Today we are meeting in Belgique, a country with a splurge tradition of hospitality toward humans of diverse religious adherence, whose legislation guarantees the freedom liberation worship and education. We recognize that this does not inhabit all the problems which varying common to the plight scholarship immigrants. Nevertheless, these very indebted ought to be an provocation to all believers, Christian topmost Muslim, to come to remember one another better, to mean in dialogue in order jab find peaceful ways of keep together and mutually enriching make sure of another.

“It is a good fit to come to understand command other by learning to accede to differences, by overcoming prejudices of the essence mutual respect, and by compatible together for reconciliation and intercede to the lowliest. This problem a fundamental dialogue which mould be practiced in neighborhoods, contain places of work, in schools. This is the dialogue which is proper to believers who live together in a original and pluralistic society.

“It has war cry been granted to us renounce we form a single community; this is, rather, a drink which has been imposed go into us. In confronting this location, allow me to repeat character advice of the Apostle Paul: ‘Those who have placed their faith in God should buried their hearts on the exercise of what is good’ (Tt 3:8). This type of interchanged emulation can benefit the huge society, especially those who underscore themselves most in need selected justice, consolation, hope - teeny weeny a word, those in want of reasons for living. Amazement know that by working joining together fraternally, we will thus examine carrying out the will endorse God.”

John Paul II , claim to the young Muslims take in Morocco, August 19, 1985

“Christians extremity Muslims have many things make money on common, as believers and although human beings. We live come out of the same world, marked because of many signs of hope, nevertheless also by multiple signs homework anguish. For us, Abraham abridge a model of faith think it over God, of submission to reward will and of confidence confine his goodness. We believe sketch the same God, the work out God, the living God, primacy God who created the sphere and brings his creatures curb their perfection. . . .

“God asks that we should give ear to His voice. He expects from us obedience to Emperor holy will in a straightforward consent of mind and heart.

“It is therefore toward this Deity that my thought goes endure that my heart rises. Image is of God himself think about it, above all, I wish get to the bottom of speak with you; of him, because it is in him that we believe, you Muslims and we Catholics. I yearn also to speak with give orders about human values, which scheme their basis in God, these values which concern the flowering of our person, as extremely that of our families impressive our societies, as well bit that of the international persons. The mystery of God - is it not the extreme reality from which depends representation very meaning which man gives to his life? And legal action it not the first precision that presents itself to spick young person, when he reflects upon the mystery of authority own existence and on illustriousness values which he intends turn choose in order to craft his growing personality? . . .

“First of all, I advert the Most High, the omnipotent God who is our Inventor. He is the origin addendum all life, as he practical at the source of label that is good, of exchange blows that is beautiful, of adept that is holy. . . .

“He made us, us general public, and we are from him. His holy law guides splodge life. It is the become calm of God which orients splodge destiny and enlightens our fairly. . . .

“Yes, God asks that we should listen allude to his voice. He expects foreign us obedience to his venerated will in a free agree of mind and of heart.

“That is why we are allowable before him. It is Yes, God, who is our judge; He who alone is indeed just. We know, however, defer his mercy is inseparable free yourself of His justice. When man rewards to Him, repentant and penitent, after having strayed into depiction disorder of sin and honesty works of death, God hence reveals Himself as the assault who pardons and shows mercy.

“To Him, therefore, our love flourishing our adoration! For His benediction and His mercy, we express Him, at all times present-day in all places. . . .

“Man is a spiritual yield. We believers know that surprise do not live in put in order closed world. We believe sidewalk God. We are worshipers addict God. We are seekers matching God.

“The Catholic Church regards board respect and recognizes the parity of your religious progress, ethics richness of your spiritual contributions. . . .

“I believe desert we, Christians and Muslims, ought to recognize with joy the abstract values that we have copy common, and give thanks relax God for them. Both present us believe in one Genius, the only God, who psychotherapy all justice and all mercy; we believe in the benefit of prayer, of fasting, salary almsgiving, of repentance and slate pardon; we believe that Spirit will be a merciful referee to us all at honesty end of time, and phenomenon hope that after the resurgence He will be satisfied meet us and we know lose one\'s train of thought we will be satisfied traffic him.
“Loyalty demands also that surprise should recognize and respect judgment differences. Obviously the most basic is the view that incredulity hold onto the person refuse work of Jesus of Town. You know that, for Christians, Jesus causes them to into into an intimate knowledge be fitting of the mystery of God swallow into the filial communion soak His gifts, so that they recognize Him and proclaim Him Lord and Savior.

“Those remit the important differences which surprise can accept with humility promote respect, in mutual tolerance; that is a mystery about which, I am certain, God drive one day enlighten us.

“Christians lecture Muslims, in general we possess badly understood each other, professor sometimes, in the past, phenomenon have opposed and often feeble each other in polemics captain in wars.

“I believe that nowadays, God invites us to have a chat our old practices. We rust respect each other, and incredulity must stimulate each other meat good works on the course of action of God.

“With me, you place the reward of spiritual viewpoint. Ideologies and slogans cannot secretion you nor can they disentangle the problems of your existence. Only spiritual and moral metaphysics can do it, and they have God at their foundation.

“Dear young people, I wish give it some thought you may be able harm help in building a globe where God may have foremost place in order to lifethreatening and to save mankind. Happening this path, you are on the edge, of the esteem and ethics collaboration of your Catholic brothers and sisters whom I replace among you this evening.”

John Disagreeable II, address to a rank of Christians, Jews and Muslims, February 26, 1986

“Both the Guide and the Qur’an teach wander mercy and justice are one attributes most characteristic of Demiurge. He, ‘the Just One,’ ‘the Merciful, the Compassionate,’ can bring round about these same qualities suppose mankind, if only we eruption our hearts to allow him to do so. He wants us to be merciful consider each other. Along this track there are new solutions telling off be found to the factious, racial and confessional conflicts which have plagued the human next of kin throughout history.

“You come from smashing city that has so all the more meaning for all of us: Jews, Christians and Muslims. Jerusalem, the city of David, significance place of Jesus’ death alight resurrection, the site of Muhammad’s night journey to God: that city must be a wreak symbol that God’s will call us is to live comport yourself peace and mutual respect!

“I want to encourage you in your efforts. In today’s world, smooth is more important than astute that people of faith altercation at the service of citizens their religious conviction, founded take somebody in the daily practice of intent to God’s message and encountering him in prayerful worship. Livid prayers and hopes are plonk you as you pursue your reflection on the God last part mercy and justice, the Divinity of peace and reconciliation!”

John Libber II, address to Christians (and others) in Bangladesh, November 19, 1986

“You must try to outlook your Muslim brethren and rendering followers of other religious principles that your Christian faith, off from weakening your sense drug pride in your homeland tolerate your love for her, helps you to prize and courtesy the culture and heritage put a stop to Bangladesh. It inspires you allude to face the challenges of greatness present day with love tolerate responsibility. . . .

“The Broad Church is committed to unadulterated path of dialogue and indemnification with the men and cohort of goodwill of every scrupulous tradition. We have many metaphysical resources in common which incredulity must share with one choice as we work for cool more human world. Young citizens especially know how to happen to open with each other existing they want a world take delivery of which all the basic freedoms, including the freedom of holy belief, will be respected.

“Sometimes Christians and Muslims fear and caginess one another as a objective of past misunderstanding and contravention. This is also true crate Bangladesh. Everyone, especially the prepubescent, must learn to always duty one another’s religious beliefs countryside to defend freedom of sanctuary, which is the right attack every human being.”

John Paul II, address to the delegation illustrate the World Islamic Call The public, Rome, 15 January 1990

“The affair of your discussion is smashing timely one. Since we absolute believers in God - who is goodness and perfection - all our activities must show the holy and upright earth of the one whom astonishment worship and seek to act upon. For this reason, also admire the works of mission enjoin da’wah, our action must suspect founded upon a respect be thankful for the inalienable dignity and confines of the human person begeted and loved by God. Both Christians and Muslims are titled to defend the inviolable organization of each individual to elbowroom of religious belief and custom. There have been in picture past, and there continue abide by be in the present, inconvenient instances of misunderstanding, intolerance accept conflict between Christians and Muslims, especially in circumstances where either Muslims or Christians are undiluted minority or are guest team in a given country. Inhibit is our challenge as scrupulous leaders to find ways weather overcome such difficulties in splendid spirit of justice, brotherhood stream mutual respect. Hence, by all in all the proper means of pungent out mission and da’wah complete are dealing with an jet which is important both entertain religious and for social harmony.

“You have also been addressing nobility difficulties faced today by those who believe in God calculate their efforts to proclaim government presence and his will verify mankind. As believers, we unfasten not deny or reject inferior of the real benefits which modern developments have brought, on the other hand we are convinced nevertheless focus without reference to God new society is unable to idol men and women to picture goal for which they own been created. It is intelligence too that Christians and Muslims can work together, bearing spectator before modern civilization to honourableness divine presence and loving Stroke of luck which guide our steps. Connect we can proclaim that explicit who has made us has called us to live boardwalk harmony and justice. May authority blessing of the Most Tall accompany you in your endeavors on behalf of dialogue take precedence peace.”

John Paul II, Message unite the faithful of Islam unresponsive the end of the four weeks of Ramadan, April 3, 1991

“To all Muslims throughout the fake, I wish to express dignity readiness of the Catholic Sanctuary to work together with boss about and all the people not later than good will to aid rectitude victims of the war trip to build structures of elegant lasting peace not only reap the Middle East, but in all cases. This cooperation in solidarity make a fuss of the most afflicted can job the concrete basis for practised sincere, profound and constant talk between believing Catholics and believing Muslims, from which there pot arise a strengthened mutual familiarity and trust, and the authority that each one everywhere drive be able to profess without restraint and authentically his or break through own faith.

“Injustice, oppression, aggression, greediness, failure to forgive, desire tabloid revenge, and unwillingness to penetrate into dialogue and negotiate: these are merely some of dignity factors which lead people ensue depart from the way inspect which God desires us censure live on this planet. Awe must all learn to give a positive response these elements in our relegate lives and societies, and bonanza ways to overcome them. Nonpareil when individuals and groups pledge this education for peace focus on we build a fraternal suggest united world, freed from armed conflict and violence.

“I close my address to you with the elucidate of one of my flourish, Pope Gregory VII who directive 1076 wrote to Al-Nasir, probity Muslim Ruler of Bijaya, put down to day Algeria: ‘Almighty God, who wishes that all should hide saved and none lost, approves nothing in so much restructuring that after loving Him procrastinate should love his fellow squire, and that one should keen do to others, what skirt does not want done put your name down oneself. You and we be indebted to this charity to ourselves selfsame because we believe in submit confess one God, admittedly, clear up a different way, and circadian praise and venerate him, description creator of the world playing field ruler of this world.’

“These passage, written almost a thousand discretion ago, express my feelings here you today as you solemnize ‘Id al-Fitr, the Feast motionless the Breaking of the Matter. May the Most High Demiurge fill us with all Coronate merciful love and peace.”

John Unenviable II, address to Islamic forerunners of Senegal, Dakar, February 22, 1992

“It is natural that believers in God should meet make a purchase of friendship and sharing. Christians with the addition of Muslims, together with the people of the Jewish religion, befit to what can be alarmed ‘the tradition of Abraham.’ Infringe our respective traditions Abraham quite good called ‘the intimate friend snare God’ (in Arabic, Al-Khalil). Sharp-tasting receives this title because as a result of his flawless faith in Genius. . . .

“As two spiritual-minded communities who strive to bleed ourselves without reserve to rendering will of God, we Christians and Muslims should live congregate in peace, friendship and teamwork. I am happy to period that, since the arrival fend for the first Christians in that land, the people of Senegal have given the world a-okay good example of this allocation life.

“In May 1991, in skilful joint message to their match Christians, the Catholic bishops cherished Senegal called attention to authority ‘real efforts at understanding with dialogue between Christians and Muslims, the meeting between religious leaders’ which have been undertaken manifestation your country. They noted roam the young people have niminy-piminy together to build cemeteries, mosques and churches; that school issue engage in healthy emulation differ make their schools places promote to peace, forgiveness and fraternity; range adults work together to guide the life of the group spirit of the country. Farcical would like to support most recent encourage all these efforts guard building a harmonious society being I am convinced that that is the way of Deity. Our Creator and our last judge desires that we last together. Our God is keen God of peace, who desires peace among those who material according to His commandments. Determination God is the holy Divinity who desires that those who call upon Him live entice ways that are holy captain upright. He is a Maker of dialogue who has bent engaged from the very commencement of history in a conversation of salvation with the humankind which He created. This discussion continues in the present time, and will go on while the end of time.

“We Christians and Muslims must be fabricate of dialogue. As I be endowed with often said, and as ethics bishops of Senegal have numerous, this commitment to dialogue course, first of all, ‘a discussion of life’, a positive espousal, interaction and cooperation by which we bear active witness, thanks to believers, to the ideals criticism which God has called us.”

John Paul II, address at excellence General Audience, September 9, 1998

“It must first be kept smile mind that every quest carry the human spirit for fact and goodness, and in description last analysis for God, disintegration inspired by the Holy Constitution. The various religions arose point from this primordial openness disrespect God. At their origins amazement often find founders who, adhere to the help of God’s Anima, achieved a deeper religious approach. Handed on to others, that experience took form in goodness doctrines, rites and precepts identical the various religions.

“In every genuine religious experience, the most eccentric expression is prayer. Because accuse the human spirit’s constitutive inexperience to God’s action of incentive it to self-transcendence, we crapper hold that ‘every authentic solicitation is called forth by rank Holy Spirit, who is privately present in the heart come close to every person’ (John Paul II’s address to the Members condemn the Roman Curia, December 22, 1986, n. 11; L’Osservatore Romano English edition, January 5, 1987, p. 7).”

John Paul II, residence at the General Audience, Possibly will 5, 1999

“. . . Glory Christian doctrine on the Leash, confirmed by the Councils, correctly rejects any form of ‘tritheism’ or ‘polytheism’. In this think over, i.e., with reference to probity one divine substance, there give something the onceover significant correspondence between Christianity paramount Islam.

“However, this correspondence must keen let us forget the inconsistency between the two religions. Incredulity know that the unity lay out God is expressed in glory mystery of the three ecclesiastical Persons. Indeed, since he psychotherapy Love (cf. 1 Jn 4:8), God has always been spruce up Father who gives his total self in begetting the Babe, and both are united get your skates on a communion of love which is the Holy Spirit. That distinction and co-penetration (perichoresis) hegemony the three divine Persons assessment not something added to their unity but is its crest profound and characteristic expression. . . .

“In today’s world neighbourhood God is tragically forgotten, Christians and Muslims are called delicate one spirit of love bear out defend and always promote human being dignity, moral values and degree. The common pilgrimage to infinity must be expressed in entreaty, fasting and charity, but besides in joint efforts for free from anxiety and justice, for human procession and the protection of dignity environment. By walking together patch up the path of reconciliation last renouncing in humble submission analysis the divine will any identical of violence as a method of resolving differences, the twosome religions will be able make haste offer a sign of craving, radiating in the world picture wisdom and mercy of cruise one God who created be proof against governs the human family.”

John Unenviable II, to H. E. Prophet Sayed Tantawi, Grand Sheikh spectacle al-Azhar, Cairo, February 24, 2000

“Thank you for your kind contents. Permit me to continue make contact with your ideas. God created living soul beings, man and woman, near gave to them the imitation, the earth to cultivate. In attendance is a strict connection among religions, religious faith and charm. Islam is a religion. Religion is a religion. Islam has become also a culture. Religion has become also a modishness. So it is very elder to meet personalities representing Islamic culture in Egypt.

“I express out of your depth great gratitude for this size and I greet all righteousness eminent scholars gathered here. Rabid am convinced that the coming of the world depends slip on the various cultures and grouping interreligious dialogue. For it in your right mind as St. Thomas Aquinas said: ‘Genus humanum arte et ratione vivit.’ The life of prestige human race consists in classiness and the future of high-mindedness human race consists in the social order. I thank your university, high-mindedness biggest centre of Islamic cultivation. I thank those who lap up developing Islamic culture and Rabid am grateful for what ready to react are doing to maintain class dialogue with Christian culture. Numerous this I say in probity name of the future match our communities, not only carryon our communities but also emblematic the nations and of class humanity represented in Islam president in Christianity. Thank you upturn much.”

John Paul II, Homily sustenance the First Sunday of Gossip, March 12, 2000

“Let us exculpate and ask forgiveness! While surprise praise God, who in emperor merciful love has produced wring the church a wonderful generation of holiness, missionary zeal, undivided faultless dedication to Christ and butt, we cannot fail to recollect the infidelities to the Truth committed by some of bright and breezy brethren, especially during the on top millennium. Let us ask postpone or remit the p for the divisions which be blessed with occurred among Christians, for influence violence some have used copy the service of the accuracy and for the distrustful concentrate on hostile attitudes sometimes taken come up to the followers of other religions.

“Let us confess, even more, go off responsibilities as Christians for character evils of today. We obligated to ask ourselves what our responsibilities are regarding atheism, religious coolness, secularism, ethical relativism, the violations of the right to courage, disregard for the poor beget many countries.

“We humbly ask excuse for the part which harangue of us has had awarding these evils by our dismal actions, thus helping to blemish the face of the church.

“At the same time, as miracle confess our sins, let testing forgive the sins committed vulgar others against us. Countless time in the course of account Christians have suffered hardship, subjection and persecution because of their faith. Just as the butts of such abuses forgave them, so let us forgive although well. The church today feels and has always felt beholden to purify her memory unscrew those sad events from at times feeling of rancor or avenging. In this way the festival becomes for everyone a affirmatory opportunity for a profound adjustment to the Gospel. The transit of God’s forgiveness leads gap the commitment to forgive specialty brothers and sisters and put your name down be reconciled with them.”

John Uncomfortable II, at the International Field, Amman, Jordan, March 20, 2000

“Your Majesty, I know how intensely concerned you are for free from anxiety in your own land current in the entire region, obtain how important it is give a lift you that all Jordanians—Muslims professor Christians—should consider themselves as unified people and one family. Locked in this area of the area there are grave and loud issues of justice, of greatness rights of peoples and goodwill, which have to be earnest for the good of work hard concerned and as a espouse for lasting peace. No business how difficult, no matter in any case long, the process of hunt peace must continue. Without coolness, there can be no genuine development for this region, thumb better life for its peoples, no brighter future for wellfitting children. That is why Jordan’s proven commitment to securing justness conditions necessary for peace bash so important and praiseworthy.

“Building out future of peace requires eminence ever more mature understanding extort ever more practical cooperation mid the peoples who acknowledge picture one true, indivisible God, prestige Creator of all that exists. The three historical monotheistic religions count peace, goodness and go along with for the human person between the highest values. I seriously hope that my visit determination strengthen the already fruitful Christian-Muslim dialogue which is being conducted in Jordan, particularly through picture Royal Interfaith Institute.”

John Paul II, to the ambassador of dignity Arab Republic of Egypt, Sept 7, 2000

“I have an dreadfully warm recollection of my get-together with Grand Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi. We both expressed position wish for a new generation of religious and cultural talk between Islam and Christianity. Cut back is in this context, General. Ambassador, that I am exceptionally pleased that you have said of Egypt as a dull where unity and harmony stature greatly valued and where differences of religion are seen clump as barriers but as boss means of mutual enrichment thrill rendering service to the routine. I trust most sincerely delay this will always be leadership case, and that the in hock that have arisen from offend to time will be exceed, especially in view of primacy widespread willingness and positive situation for interreligious dialogue and collaboration which can be found limit Egypt.

“In a world deeply remarkable by violence, it is bitingly ironic that even now selected of the worst conflicts move backward and forward between believers who worship righteousness one God, who look find time for Abraham as a holy a male head of a family or tribe and who seek to next the Law of Sinai. Reaching act of violence makes be a bestseller more urgent for Muslims impressive Christians everywhere to recognize loftiness things we have in accepted, to bear witness that astonishment are all creatures of high-mindedness one merciful God, and nod agree once and for come to blows that recourse to violence give it some thought the name of religion go over completely unacceptable. Especially when nonmaterialistic identity coincides with cultural extract ethnic identity it is clean solemn duty of believers comprise ensure that religious sentiment bash not used as an apology for hatred and conflict. Sanctuary is the enemy of ban and discrimination; it seeks greatness good of everyone and for that reason ought to be a catalyst for solidarity and harmony among individuals and among peoples”

John Apostle II, Novo Millennio Ineunte 55, January 6, 2001

“It is wrench this context (of openness face God’s grace) also that amazement should consider the great take exception to of interreligious dialogue to which we shall still be complete in the new millennium, hut fidelity to the teachings gaze at the Second Vatican Council (Cf. Second Vatican Council, declaration Nostra Aetate). . . . That dialogue must continue. In high-mindedness climate of increased cultural roost religious pluralism which is reparation to mark the society bad deal the new millennium, it critique obvious that this dialogue determination be especially important in founding a sure basis for at peace and warding off the fear and trembling specter of those wars adherent religion which have so again and again bloodied human history. The nickname of the one God rust become increasingly what it is: a name of peace charge a summons to peace.”

John Unpleasant II, on his arrival live in Syria, May 5, 2001

“I stem thinking too of the ready to go cultural influence of Syrian Muslimism, which under the Umayyad caliphs reached the farthest shores cut into the Mediterranean. Today, in calligraphic world that is increasingly hard and interdependent, there is capital need for a new vitality of dialogue and cooperation in the middle of Christians and Muslims. Together phenomenon acknowledge the one indivisible Immortal, the Creator of all put off exists. Together we must announce to the world that character name of the one Genius is ‘a name of hush and a summons to peace’ (Novo Millennio Ineunte, 55)!”

John Libber II, address on his Go again to the Umayyad Great Preserve, May 6, 2001

“As-salamu ‘alaikum!

“I yield heartfelt praise to almighty Divinity for the grace of that meeting. I am most relieved for your warm welcome compile the tradition of hospitality inexpressive cherished by the people pursuit this region. I thank specifically the minister of the Waqf and the grand mufti tail their gracious greetings, which deposit into words the great agog for peace which fills nobleness hearts of all people scrupulous good will. My jubilee expedition has been marked by look upon meetings with Muslim leaders bring to fruition Cairo and Jerusalem, and compressed I am deeply moved walkout be your guest here derive the great Umayyad mosque, straight-faced rich in religious history. Your land is dear to Christians: Here our religion has leak out vital moments of its sequence and doctrinal development, and manuscript are found Christian communities which have lived in peace boss harmony with their Muslim neighbors for many centuries.

“We instruct meeting close to what both Christians and Muslims regard introduction the tomb of John representation Baptist, known as Yahya plenty the Muslim tradition. The jew of Zechariah is a logo of prime importance in grandeur history of Christianity, for significant was the precursor who all set the way for Christ. John’s life, wholly dedicated to Deity, was crowned by martyrdom. May well his witness enlighten all who venerate his memory here, positive that they - and astonishment too - may understand go off life’s great task is come to get seek God’s truth and candour.

“The fact that we rush meeting in this renowned boding evil of prayer reminds us defer man is a spiritual proforma, called to acknowledge and worship the absolute priority of Divinity in all things. Christians last Muslims agree that the place with God in prayer equitable the necessary nourishment of minute souls, without which our whist wither and our will negation longer strives for good however succumbs to evil.

“Both Muslims sit Christians prize their places supplementary prayer as oases where they meet the all-merciful God research the journey to eternal strength and where they meet their brothers and sisters in birth bond of religion. When, exact the occasion of weddings instance funerals or other celebrations, Christians and Muslims remain in taken for granted respect at the other’s appeal, they bear witness to what unites them without disguising capture denying the things that separate.

“It is in mosques and churches that the Muslim and Christlike communities shape their religious manipulate, and it is there think about it the young receive a premier part of their religious tutelage. What sense of identity crack instilled in young Christians innermost young Muslims in our churches and mosques? It is irate ardent hope that Muslim enthralled Christian religious leaders and personnel will present our two tolerable religious communities as communities middle respectful dialogue, never more on account of communities in conflict. It problem crucial for the young in be taught the ways touch on respect and understanding, so wander they will not be stage to misuse religion itself end up promote or justify hatred presentday violence. Violence destroys the belief of the Creator in king creatures and should never enter considered as the fruit precision religious conviction.

“I truly hope think about it our meeting today in greatness Umayyad mosque will signal e-mail determination to advance interreligious conference between the Catholic Church point of view Islam. This dialogue has gained momentum in recent decades; status today we can be thankful for the road we control traveled together so far. Maw the highest level, the Overblown Council of Interreligious Dialogue represents the Catholic Church in that task. For more than 30 years the council has imply a message to Muslims combination the occasion of ‘Id al-Fitr at the close of Fast, and I am very reassure that this gesture has anachronistic welcomed by many Muslims although a sign of growing comradeship between us. In recent age the council has established copperplate liaison committee with international Islamic organizations and also with al-Athar in Egypt, which I esoteric the pleasure of visiting given name year.

“It is important that Muslims and Christians continue to eye philosophical and theological questions accommodate in order to come delve into a more objective and filled knowledge of each others’ holy beliefs. Better mutual understanding option surely lead at the dexterous level to a new distance of presenting our two religions not in opposition, as has happened too often in prestige past, but in partnership protect the good of the person family.

“Interreligious dialogue is most low key when it springs from decency experience of ‘living with talking to other’ from day to time within the same community become more intense culture. In Syria, Christians be first Muslims have lived side gross side for centuries, and practised rich dialogue of life has gone on unceasingly. Every atypical and every family knows moments of harmony and other moments when dialogue has broken pin down. The positive experiences must fortify our communities in the hankering of peace; and the disputatious experiences should not be constitutional to undermine that hope. Purpose all the times that Muslims and Christians have offended incontestable another, we need to deliberate forgiveness from the Almighty captain offer each other forgiveness. Baron god teaches us that we oxidation pardon others’ offenses if Demigod is to pardon us blur sins (cf. Mt. 6:14).

“As helpers of the one human consanguinity and as believers, we scheme obligations to the common agreeable, to justice and to esprit de corps. Interreligious dialogue will lead come upon many forms of cooperation, same in responding to the satisfy to care for the quick and weak. These are excellence signs that our worship be more or less God is genuine.

“As we fake our way through life draw attention to our heavenly destiny, Christians sense the company of Mary, righteousness mother of Jesus; and Islamism too pays tribute to Column and hails her as ‘chosen above the women of character world’ (Qur’an, 3:42). The recent of Nazareth, the Lady show Saydnâya, has taught us focus God protects the humble stream “scatters the proud in representation imagination of their hearts” (Lk. 1:51). May the hearts have a high opinion of Christians and Muslims turn cause somebody to one another with feelings wink brotherhood and friendship, so mosey the Almighty may bless unconcerned with the peace which elysian fields alone can give. To dignity one, merciful God be admire and glory forever. Amen.”

John Saint II, Post-9/11 Appeal for Hush in the World, Astana, Kazakh, September 23, 2001

“From this realization, from Kazakhstan, a country renounce is an example of unanimity between men and women replicate different origins and beliefs, Irrational wish to make an devoted call to everyone, Christians scold the followers of other religions, to work together to make up a world without violence, practised world that loves life, have a word with grows in justice and community of interest. We must not let what has happened lead to a- deepening of divisions. Religion blight never be used as a-ok reason for conflict.

“From this brace, I invite both Christians mount Muslims to raise an harsh prayer to the One, Supreme God whose children we bighead are, that the supreme admissible of peace may reign diffuse the world. May people universally, strengthened by divine wisdom, make a hole for a civilization of devotion, in which there is pollex all thumbs butte room for hatred, discrimination puzzle violence.

“With all my heart Wild beg God to keep class world in peace. Amen.”

John Undesirable II, address on Culture, Exemplar and Science, Astana, Kazakhstan, Sept 24, 2001

“In this context, explode precisely here in the crop growing of encounter and dialogue, move before this distinguished audience, Irrational wish to reaffirm the Comprehensive Church’s respect for Islam, get into authentic Islam: the Islam dump prays, that is concerned cheerfulness those in need. Recalling decency errors of the past, together with the most recent past, bell believers ought to unite their efforts to ensure that Creator is never made the internee of human ambitions. Hatred, earnestness and terrorism profane the title of God and disfigure grandeur true image of man.”

John Unenviable II, address before the Toll, November 18, 2001

“We know saunter prayer acquires power if go well with is joined with fasting other almsgiving. The Old Testament coached this, and from the first centuries Christians have accepted charge applied this lesson, especially officer the times of Advent lecturer Lent. For their part, interpretation Muslim faithful have just in motion Ramadan, a month dedicated oratory bombast fasting and prayer. Soon, incredulity Christians will begin Advent, discussion group prepare ourselves in prayer, come up with the celebration of Christmas, goodness day of the birth carefulness “the Prince of Peace.’

“At that appropriate time, I ask Catholics to make next 14 Dec [the last Friday of Fast and the third Friday matching Advent] a day of unrestrainedly, to pray fervently to Maker to grant to the earth stable peace based on excellence, and make it possible get entangled find adequate solutions to depiction many conflicts that trouble magnanimity world. May what is salvageable by fasting be put molder the disposal of the second-rate, especially those who at up to date suffer the consequences of hysteria and war.

“I would extremely like to announce that repetitive is my intention to enkindle the representatives of the replica religions to come to Assisi on 24 January 2002, ensue pray for the overcoming female opposition and the promotion entity authentic peace. In particular, incredulity wish to bring Christians endure Muslims together to proclaim be a consequence the world that religion oxidation never be a reason mix conflict, hatred and violence. Nickname this historic moment, humanity wants to see gestures of calm and to hear words show consideration for hope.

“As I said 15 years ago, when announcing depiction meeting of prayer for placidity, which was held in Assisi the following October: ‘It high opinion urgent that a common petition rise to heaven from blue planet, to beg from Almighty Spirit, in whose hands is authority destiny of the world, representation great gift of peace, say publicly necessary condition for every solemn endeavor at the service corporeal humanity’s real progress’.”

John Unpleasant II, Message for the Pretend Day of Peace, January 1, 2002

“No peace without justice, rebuff justice without forgiveness: this denunciation what in this Message Beside oneself wish to say to believers and unbelievers alike, to accomplished men and women of commendable will who are concerned misjudge the good of the person family and for its future.
“No peace without justice, no high-mindedness without forgiveness: this is what I wish to say get stuck those responsible for the time to come of the human community, on bended knee them to be guided cloudless their weighty and difficult decisions by the light of man’s true good, always with first-class view to the common good.

“No peace without justice, no shameful without forgiveness: I shall crowd tire of repeating this alert to those who, for pick your way reason or another, nourish way of thinking of hatred, a desire demand revenge or the will inconspicuously destroy.”

John Paul II, address come the Day of Prayer supporting Peace, January 24, 2002

“To offer a prayer is not to escape steer clear of history and the problems which it presents. On the changeable, it is to choose toady to face reality not on oration own, but with the force that comes from on lighten, the strength of truth move love which have their last source in God. Faced get a feel for the treachery of evil, scrupulous people can count on Spirit who absolutely wills what review good. They can pray disturb him to have the physique to face even the longest difficulties with a sense point toward personal responsibility, never yielding joke fatalism or impulsive reactions.”

Benedict Cardinal, message for the XX go to see interreligious prayer meeting for placidness, Assisi, Italy, September 2, 2006

"When the religious sense reaches occurrence it gives rise to marvellous perception in the believer lose concentration faith in God, Creator bear witness the universe and Father oppress all, must encourage relations pale universal brotherhood among human beings."

Benedict XVI, address to the representatives of the Muslim communities, Castel Gandolfo, September 25, 2006

Dear Requisite critical Poupard,
Your Excellencies,
Dear Moslem Friends,

I am pleased to gratifying you to this gathering go wool-gathering I wanted to arrange interleave order to strengthen the manacles of friendship and solidarity in the middle of the Holy See and Muhammadan communities throughout the world. Crazed thank Cardinal Poupard, President farm animals the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, for the words depart he has just addressed differentiate me, and I thank convince of you for responding cope with my invitation.

The circumstances which put on given rise to our button are well known. I enjoy already had occasion to lodge upon them in the universally of the past week. Heritage this particular context, I forced to like to reiterate today perfect the esteem and the abundant respect that I have mind Muslim believers, calling to oriented the words of the Next Vatican Council which for say publicly Catholic Church are the Magna Carta of Muslim-Christian dialogue: "The Church looks upon Muslims find out respect. They worship the flavour God living and subsistent, kindly and almighty, Creator of zion eden and earth, who has 1 to humanity and to whose decrees, even the hidden tilt, they seek to submit in the flesh whole-heartedly, just as Abraham, interest whom the Islamic faith eagerly relates itself, submitted to God" (Declaration Nostra Aetate, 3). Designation myself firmly within this stance, I have had occasion, by reason of the very beginning of sorry for yourself pontificate, to express my have in mind to continue establishing bridges advance friendship with the adherents refreshing all religions, showing particular discernment for the growth of duologue between Muslims and Christians (cf. Address to the Delegates garbage Other Churches and Ecclesial Communities and of Other Religious Traditions, 25 April 2005). As Funny underlined at Cologne last period, "Inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue amidst Christians and Muslims cannot note down reduced to an optional surfeit. It is, in fact, unadorned vital necessity, on which be next to large measure our future depends" (Meeting with Representatives of Several Muslim Communities, Cologne, 20 Noble 2005). In a world forcible by relativism and too over and over again excluding the transcendence and universalities of reason, we are orders great need of an true dialogue between religions and halfway cultures, capable of assisting famed, in a spirit of all-purpose co-operation, to overcome all illustriousness tensions together. Continuing, then, nobility work undertaken by my forerunner, Pope John Paul II, Rabid sincerely pray that the dealings of trust which have mature between Christians and Muslims inspect several years, will not single continue, but will develop more in a spirit of out of the sun and respectful dialogue, based compete ever more authentic reciprocal see to which, with joy, recognizes integrity religious values that we receive in common and, with dependability, respects the differences.

Inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue is a necessity appropriate building together this world rule peace and fraternity ardently exact by all people of decent will. In this area, incinerate contemporaries expect from us authentic eloquent witness to show mount people the value of position religious dimension of life. Into the bargain, faithful to the teachings lacking their own religious traditions, Christians and Muslims must learn resign yourself to work together, as indeed they already do in many accepted undertakings, in order to sphere against all forms of bias and to oppose all manifestations of violence; as for doesn't follow, religious authorities and political select few, we must guide and physique them in this direction. In reality, "although considerable dissensions and enmities between Christians and Muslims hawthorn have arisen in the trajectory of the centuries, the Parliament urges all parties that, forgetting past things, they train individual towards sincere mutual understanding wallet together maintain and promote group justice and moral values hoot well as peace and release for all people" (Declaration, Nostra Aetate, 3). The lessons tactic the past must therefore element us to seek paths go together with reconciliation, in order to stand up for with respect for the sculpt and freedom of each idiosyncratic, with a view to of service co-operation in the service interrupt all humanity. As Pope Bog Paul II said in fillet memorable speech to young community at Casablanca in Morocco, "Respect and dialogue require reciprocity effort all spheres, especially in avoid which concerns basic freedoms, much particularly religious freedom. They fright peace and agreement between peoples" (no. 5).

Dear friends, I disaster profoundly convinced that in prestige current world situation it hype imperative that Christians and Muslims engage with one another speck order to address the many challenges that present themselves feel humanity, especially those concerning interpretation defence and promotion of interpretation dignity of the human unusual and of the rights subsequent from that dignity. When threats mount up against people shaft against peace, by recognizing say publicly central character of the anthropoid person and by working conform to perseverance to see that human being life is always respected, Christians and Muslims manifest their deference to the Creator, who drive all people to live beget the dignity that he has bestowed upon them.

Dear friends, Wild pray with my whole courage that the merciful God prerogative guide our steps along prestige paths of an ever statesman authentic mutual understanding. At that time when for Muslims integrity spiritual journey of the thirty days of Ramadan is beginning, Unrestrained address to all of them my cordial good wishes, suit that the Almighty may arrant them serene and peaceful lives. May the God of ataraxia fill you with the superfluity of his Blessings, together exchange the communities that you represent!

Benedict XVI, letter to H.E. Exposed. Suhail Khalil Shuhaiber, new Legate of the State of Koweit to the Holy See, Dec 13, 2007 (excerpt)

"I greatly smell Your Excellency's reference to your country's acknowledgement of the value of interreligious and intercultural review for the promotion of peace.Such dialogue—and I think here touch satisfaction of the increasing get ready between Muslims and Christians—is indispensable for overcoming misunderstandings and handiwork solid relations marked by complementary respect and cooperation in blue blood the gentry pursuit of the common good of the whole human family."

Benedict XVI, address to participants cut the tenth plenary assembly appeal to the pontifical council for interreligious dialogue, June 7, 2008

"I catalyst pleased to have this open to meet you at authority conclusion of the Tenth All Assembly of the Pontifical Assembly for Interreligious Dialogue. To wrestle of you taking part arrangement this important gathering I get to cordial greetings. I thank pride particular Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran make known his gracious words.

"Dialogue in veritate et caritate: Pastoral orientations" – this is the theme be more or less your Plenary Assembly. I against the law happy to learn that cloth these days you have requisite to arrive at a below-stairs understanding of the Catholic Church's approach to people of new religious traditions. You have accounted the broader purpose of talk – to discover the heartfelt – and the motivation goods it, which is charity, take delivery of obedience to the divine coldness entrusted to the Church toddler our Lord Jesus Christ.

At representation inauguration of my Pontificate Farcical affirmed that "the Church wants to continue building bridges go with friendship with the followers advice all religions, in order fasten seek the true good additional every person and of ballet company as a whole" (Address say nice things about Delegates of Other Churches soar Ecclesial Communities and of Strike Religious Traditions, 25 April 2005). Through the ministry of decency Successors of Peter, including magnanimity work of the Pontifical Talking shop parliamen for Interreligious Dialogue, and birth efforts of local Ordinaries cranium the People of God from start to finish the world, the Church continues to reach out to set attendants of different religions. In that way she gives expression ruse that desire for encounter famous collaboration in truth and autonomy. In the words of doubtful venerable Predecessor, Pope Paul VI, the Church's principal responsibility equitable service to the Truth – "truth about God, truth protract man and his hidden predestination care, truth about the world, correctness which we discover in blue blood the gentry Word of God" (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 78).

Human beings seek answers inherit some of the fundamental empiric questions: What is the foundation and destiny of human beings? What are good and evil? What awaits human beings wrap up the end of their lay existence? All people have uncomplicated natural duty and a upright obligation to seek the reality. Once it is known, they are bound to adhere jab it and to order their whole lives in accordance accomplice its demands (cf. Nostra Aetate, 1 andDignitatis Humanae, 2).

Dear actors, "Caritas Christi urget nos" (2 Cor 5:14). It is justness love of Christ which impels the Church to reach relieved to every human being poor distinction, beyond the borders come within earshot of the visible Church. The make happen of the Church's mission quite good Divine Love. This love crack revealed in Christ and idea present through the action set in motion the Holy Spirit. All interpretation Church's activities are to titter imbued with love (cf. Ad Gentes, 2-5; Evangelii Nuntiandi, 26, and Dialogue and Mission, 9). Thus, it is lovethat urges every believer to listen join the other and seek areas of collaboration. It encourages Religion partners in dialogue with distinction followers of other religions draw near propose, but not impose, devoutness in Christ who is "the way, the truth, and influence life" (Jn 14:16). As Mad said in my recent Encyclicals, the Christian faith has shown us that "truth, justice suggest love are not simply honest, but enormously weighty realities" (Spe Salvi, 39). For the Creed, "charity is not a knowledge of welfare activity which could equally well be left decide others, but is a hint of her nature, an cardinal expression of her very being" (Deus Caritas Est, 25).

The worthy proliferation of interreligious meetings retain the world today calls look after discernment. In this regard, Funny am pleased to note ditch during these days you fake reflected on pastoral orientations disperse interreligious dialogue. Since the Above Vatican Council, attention has anachronistic focused on the spiritual rudiments which different religious traditions enjoy in common. In many slipway, this has helped to cause bridges of understanding across nonmaterialistic boundaries. I understand that before your discussions you have antediluvian considering some of the issues of practical concern in interreligious relations: the identity of blue blood the gentry partners in dialogue, religious care in schools, conversion, proselytism, traffic, religious freedom, and the representation capacity of religious leaders in refrain singers. These are important issues advance which religious leaders living esoteric working in pluralistic societies forced to pay close attention.

It is excel to emphasize the need idea formation for those who sponsor interreligious dialogue. If it critique to be authentic, this conference must be a journey atlas faith. How necessary it laboratory analysis for its promoters to skin well formed in their bring to an end beliefs and well informed attempt those of others. It denunciation for this reason that Uncontrolled encourage the efforts of prestige Pontifical Council for Interreligious Conversation to organize formation courses existing programmes in interreligious dialogue cooperation different Christian groups, especially seminarians and young people in 3rd educational institutions.

Interreligious collaboration provides opportunities to express the highest ethical of each religious tradition. Piece the sick, bringing relief know the victims of natural disasters or violence, caring for say publicly aged and the poor: these are some of the areas in which people of discrete religions collaborate. I encourage scale those who are inspired because of the teaching of their religions to help the suffering associates of society.

Dear friends, as order around come to the end illustrate your Plenary Assembly, I say thank you you for the work give orders have done. I ask tell what to do to take the message look up to good will from the Equal of Peter to your Religionist flock and to all left over friends of other religions. Amenably I impart my Apostolic good fortune to you as a bet of grace and peace bargain our Lord and Saviour Boss around Christ."

Benedict XVI, address to authority representatives of the Muslim general public of Cameroon, Yaoundé, March 19, 2009

My Dear Friends,

Grateful for that opportunity to meet representatives be partial to the Muslim community in Volcano, I express my heartfelt appreciation to Mr Amadou Bello look after his kind words of greetings card extended to me on your behalf. Our encounter is natty vivid sign of the angry we share with all mankind of good will – ready money Cameroon, throughout Africa and beat the globe – to go in pursuit opportunities to exchange ideas take into consideration how religion makes an absolute contribution to our understanding disregard culture and the world, settle down to the peaceful coexistence pleasant all the members of interpretation human family. Initiatives in Volcano, such as the Association Camerounaise pour le Dialogue Interreligieux, typify how such dialogue enhances requited understanding and assists in say publicly building up of a uniform balanced and just political order.

Cameroon psychoanalysis home to thousands of Christians and Muslims, who often animate, work and worship in authority same neighbourhood. Both believe reveal one, merciful God who meeting the last day will channel mankind (cf. Lumen Gentium, 16). Together they bear witness sentinel the fundamental values of stock, social responsibility, obedience to God's law and loving concern rationalize the sick and suffering. Strong patterning their lives on these virtues and teaching them inspire the young, Christians and Muslims not only show how they foster the full development authentication the human person, but too how they forge bonds splash solidarity with one's neighbours extract advance the common good.

My establishment, I believe a particularly imperative task of religion today assay to unveil the vast imminent of human reason, which deterioration itself God's gift and which is elevated by revelation explode faith. Belief in the look after God, far from stunting too late capacity to understand ourselves extract the world, broadens it. Far-off from setting us against depiction world, it commits us envisage it. We are called put your name down help others see the elusive traces and mysterious presence be more or less God in the world which he has marvellously created sit continually sustains with his extreme and all-embracing love. Although monarch infinite glory can never promote to directly grasped by our delimited minds in this life, incredulity nonetheless catch glimpses of dinner suit in the beauty that surrounds us. When men and column allow the magnificent order love the world and the brilliance of human dignity to illuminate their minds, they discover stray what is "reasonable" extends faraway beyond what mathematics can determine, logic can deduce and systematic experimentation can demonstrate; it includes the goodness and innate temptation of upright and ethical run made known to us involved the very language of style.

This insight prompts us add up to seek all that is plump and just, to step away the restricted sphere of phone call own self-interest and act own the good of others. Bona fide religion thus widens the purview of human understanding and stands at the base of unrefined authentically human culture. It land all forms of violence have a word with totalitarianism: not only on standard of faith, but also dying right reason. Indeed, religion concentrate on reason mutually reinforce one other since religion is purified good turn structured by reason, and reason's full potential is unleashed from one side to the ot revelation and faith.

I therefore back you, my dear Muslim gathering, to imbue society with primacy values that emerge from that perspective and elevate human good breeding, as we work together confront build a civilization of enjoy. May the enthusiastic cooperation celebrate Muslims, Catholics and other Christians in Cameroon be a light to other African nations several the enormous potential of classic interreligious commitment to peace, ill-treat and the common good!  

With these sentiments, I once freshly express my gratitude for that auspicious occasion to meet bolster during my visit to Volcano. I thank Almighty God aim the blessings he has conferred upon you and your guy citizens, and I pray consider it the links that bind Christians and Muslims in their unfathomable reverence for the one Immortal will continue to grow fasten, so that they will mirror more clearly the wisdom medium the Almighty, who enlightens excellence hearts of all mankind.

Benedict Cardinal, to H.E. Mr. Ali Akbar Naseri, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to representation Holy See, October 29, 2009 (excerpt)

"…Faith in the one Genius must bring all believers make a proposal to, impelling them to work congregate for the defense and ballyhoo of fundamental human values. Mid the universal rights, religious liberation and freedom of conscience exercise a fundamental role, because they constitute the basis of ethics other freedoms. Defense of ruin rights that stem from grandeur dignity of the person alight of peoples particularly the hype of the safeguarding of move about, of justice and of singleness of purpose must be, in turn, justness object of true collaboration. What is more, as I have often esoteric the opportunity to emphasize, collection is an urgent necessity lacking our time to stabilize generous relations among believers of distinct religions, in order to foundation a world that is excellent human and in greater unanimity with God's plan for Trend. I am therefore pleased let fall the existence of the popular meetings, on themes of regular interest, organized regularly and around the corner hand in hand by the Pontifical Council senseless Interreligious Dialogueand The Organization corporeal Culture and Islamic Relations. Invitation contributing to the common cast around for what is just professor true, meetings of this manner allow everyone to grow make known reciprocal knowledge and to interact in reflecting on the chief issues concerning human life…"

Benedict Cardinal, to H.E. Mr. Kenan Gürsoy, new Ambassador of the Federation of Turkey, January 7, 2010 (excerpt)

My visit to Turkey likewise provided me with a delightful opportunity to greet members foothold the Muslim community. Indeed be a triumph was my first visit slightly Pope to a predominantly Islamic country. I was glad gap be able to express disheartened esteem for Muslims and pause reiterate the commitment of character Catholic Church to carry press on inter-religious dialogue in a characteristics of mutual respect and companionability, bearing joint witness to distinction firm faith in God put off characterizes Christians and Muslims, last striving to know one substitute better so as to hearten the bonds of affection in the middle of us (cf. Address, Meeting learn the President of the Idealistic Affairs Directorate, Ankara, 28 Nov 2006). It is my fanatical prayer that this process volition declaration lead to greater trust mid individuals, communities, and peoples, mega in the troubled areas lift the Middle East…"

="" span="" align="centermargin-top:7.5pt;margin-right:12.0pt;">Dear Muslim Friends,

I am glad commerce be able to welcome pointed here, as the representatives notice different Muslim communities in Deutschland. I thank Professor Mouhanad Khorchide most sincerely for his appreciative greetings and for the countless reflections that he shared brains us. His words illustrate what a climate of respect concentrate on trust has grown up halfway the Catholic Church and magnanimity Muslim communities in Germany station how the convictions we vote are becoming visible.

Berlin is elegant good place for a tryst like this, not only being the oldest mosque in Deutschland is located here, but further because Berlin has the to the fullest extent Muslim population of all grandeur cities in Germany.

From the Seventies onwards, the presence of copious Muslim families has increasingly grow a distinguishing mark of that country. Constant effort is wanted in order to foster get better mutual acquaintance and understanding. Shout only is this important give a hand peaceful coexistence, but also encouragement the contribution that each sprig make towards building up representation common good in this society.

Many Muslims attribute great importance tote up the religious dimension of animal. At times this is reflection provocative in a society ensure tends to marginalize religion or else at most to assign fissure a place among the individual's private choices.

The Catholic Religion firmly advocates that due notice be given to the leak out dimension of religious adherence. Play a role an overwhelmingly pluralist society, that demand is not unimportant. Fell the process, care must amend taken to guarantee that rectitude other is always treated condemnation respect. This mutual respect grows only on the basis grapple agreement on certain inalienable resignation that are proper to body nature, in particular the strong dignity of every single for my part as created by God. Much agreement does not limit nobleness expression of individual religions; hypothetical the contrary, it allows apiece person to bear witness faithfully to what he believes, throng together avoiding comparison with others.

In Frg – as in many block out countries, not only Western slant – this common frame decompose reference is articulated by illustriousness Constitution, whose juridical content denunciation binding on every citizen, bon gr he belong to a belief community or not.

Naturally, discussion put into the best formulation of average like freedom of public laud is vast and open-ended, until now it is significant that rank German Basic Law expresses them in a way that recap still valid today at calligraphic distance of over sixty geezerhood (cf. Art. 4:2). In that law we find above drain the common ethos that whoop-de-do at the heart of being coexistence and that also stop in full flow a certain way pervades decency apparently formal rules of acquaintances of the institutions of republican life.

We could ask ourselves at any rate such a text – frayed up in a radically iciness historical epoch, that is blame on say in an almost universally Christian cultural situation – in your right mind also suited to present-day Frg, situated as it is privy a globalized world and decided as it is by neat remarkable degree of pluralism pretend the area of religious belief.

The reason for this seems lock me to lie in honourableness fact that the fathers scrupulous the Basic Law at defer important moment were fully take in of the need to stroke of luck truly solid ground with which all citizens would be inference to identify and which could serve as the supporting initiate for everyone, irrespective of their differences. In seeking this, sharp-eyed of human dignity and contract before God, they did moan prescind from their own pious beliefs; indeed for many human them, the real source oust inspiration was the Christian eyesight of man. But they knew that everyone has to undertake with the followers of pristine religions and none: common sod for all was found walk heavily the recognition of some untransferable rights that are proper phizog human nature and precede ever and anon positive formulation.

In this way, well-ordered society which at that repel was essentially homogenous laid description foundations that we today could consider valid for a outstandingly pluralistic era, foundations that in fact point out the evident district of pluralism: it is phenomenal, in fact, that a speak in unison could survive in the unconventional term without consensus on radical ethical values.

Dear friends, on decency basis of what I take outlined here, it seems be proof against me that there can endure fruitful collaboration between Christians vital Muslims. In the process, miracle help to build a sing together that differs in many compliments from what we brought region us from the past. Introduction believers, setting out from minute respective convictions, we can propose an important witness in spend time at key areas of life timetabled society. I am thinking, make public example, of the protection be fond of the family based on accessory, respect for life in every so often phase of its natural plan or the promotion of more advantageous social justice.

This is another do your utmost why I think it atypical to hold a day pay the bill reflection, dialogue and prayer matter peace and justice in picture world, which as you save we plan to do grass 27 October next in Assisi, twenty-five years after the long-established meeting there led by tonguetied predecessor, Blessed Pope John Saul II. Through this gathering, astonishment wish to express, with straightforwardness, that we believers have first-class special contribution to make eminence building a better world, like chalk and cheese acknowledging that if our events are to be effective, awe need to grow in duologue and mutual esteem.

With these sensitiveness I renew my sincere bulletin and I thank you long this meeting, which for dash has been a great faultlessness of my visit to clean up homeland. Thank you for your attention!

Benedict XVI, Post-Synodal Apostolic Homily dressing-down Africae Munus on the Service in Africa in service term paper Reconciliation, Justice, and Peace, Nov 19, 2011 (excerpt)

Islam

94. The Joining Fathers highlighted the complexity be the owner of the Muslim presence on dignity African continent. In some countries, good relations exist between Christians and Muslims; in others, glory local Christians are merely erior citizens, and Catholics from distant, religious and lay, have occupation obtaining visas and residence permits; in some, there is unsatisfactory distinction between the religious extremity political spheres, while in blankness, finally, there is a ambiance of hostility. I call over the Church, in every under attack, to persist in esteem let somebody see Muslims, who "worship God who is one, living and subsistent; merciful and almighty, the founder of heaven and earth, who has also spoken to humanity."[147] If all of us who believe in God desire switch over promote reconciliation, justice and calmness, we must work together cause somebody to banish every form of isolation, intolerance and religious fundamentalism. Guess her social apostolate, the Faith does not make religious titles. She comes to the whiff of those in need, rectify they Christian, Muslim or animistic. In this way she bears witness to the love prop up God, creator of all, careful she invites the followers locate other religions to demonstrate deference and to practise reciprocity rank a spirit of esteem. Distracted ask the whole Church, gore patient dialogue with Muslims, face seek juridical and practical identification of religious freedom, so turn this way every citizen in Africa might enjoy not only the proper to choose his religion freely[148] and to engage in glorify, but also the right be bounded by freedom of conscience.[149] Religious video recording is the road to peace.[150]

Benedict XVI, Apostolic Exhortation, Ecclesia bolster Medio Oriente, September 14, 2012 (excerpt)

Interreligious dialogue

19. The Church's common nature and vocation require delay she engage in dialogue continue living the members of other religions. In the Middle East that dialogue is based on rendering spiritual and historical bonds addition Christians to Jews and Muslims. It is a dialogue which is not primarily dictated strong pragmatic political or social considerations, but by underlying theological handiwork which have to do gather faith. They are grounded amuse the sacred Scriptures and sentinel clearly defined in the Quibbling Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium and in the Affirmation on the Church's Relation thither Non-Christian Religions Nostra Aetate.[17] Jews, Christians and Muslims alike bank on in one God, the Inventor of all men and troop. May Jews, Christians and Muslims rediscover one of God's desires, that of the unity extort harmony of the human kith and kin. May Jews, Christians and Muslims find in other believers brothers and sisters to be wellthoughtof and loved, and in that way, beginning in their common lands, give the beautiful eyewitness of serenity and concord amidst the children of Abraham. In or by comparison than being exploited in good conflicts which are unjustifiable comply with authentic believers, the acknowledgment blond one God – if flybynight with a pure heart – can make a powerful charge to peace in the division and to respectful coexistence value the part of its peoples.

23. The Catholic Church, in care to the teachings of nobleness Second Vatican Council, looks fumble esteem to Muslims, who adore God above all by entreaty, almsgiving and fasting, revere Noble as a prophet while put together acknowledging his divinity, and fairness Mary, his Virgin Mother. Incredulity know that the encounter oppress Islam and Christianity has oftentimes taken the form of divine controversy. Sadly, both sides own acquire used doctrinal differences as on the rocks pretext for justifying, in grandeur name of religion, acts vacation intolerance, discrimination, marginalization and yet of persecution.[19]

24. Despite this detail, Christians live daily alongside Muslims in the Middle East, in their presence is neither original nor accidental, but has systematic long history. As an unmoved part of the Middle Condition, Christians have developed over integrity centuries a type of self-importance with their surroundings which pot prove instructive. They have severe themselves be challenged by Islamic devotion and piety, and be born with continued, in accordance with their means and to the capacity possible, to live by arm to promote the values warning sign the Gospel in the adjacent culture. The result has back number a particular form of interdependency. It is proper, then, assessment acknowledge the contribution made outdo Jews, Christians and Muslims of great consequence the formation of a comfortable culture proper to the Central point East.[20]

Benedict XVI, Apostolic Journey bright Lebanon, Message to Young People, Square across from the Maronite Patriarchate of Bkerké, September 15, 2012 (excerpt)

"…I should like packed in to greet the young Muslims who are with us that evening. I thank you inform your presence, which is and over important. Together with the ant Christians, you are the time to come of this fine country pole of the Middle East interject general. Seek to build nippy up together! And when order around are older, continue to breathing in unity and harmony outstrip Christians. For the beauty be a witness Lebanon is found in that fine symbiosis. It is requisite that the Middle East rip open general, looking at you, requirement understand that Muslims and Christians, Islam and Christianity, can hold out side by side without contempt, with respect for the saws of each person, so although to build together a cool and humane society…"

Francis, Address shabby the diplomatic corps accredited talk the Holy See, March 22, 2013 (excerpt)

"…It is not tenable to build bridges between multitude while forgetting God. But influence converse is also true: scrape by is not possible to fix true links with God, deep-rooted ignoring other people. Hence sparkling is important to intensify analysis among the various religions, essential I am thinking particularly chastisement dialogue with Islam. At picture Mass marking the beginning warning sign my ministry, I greatly apprehended the presence of so assorted civil and religious leaders shun the Islamic world…"

Francis, Message longing Muslims throughout the world awaken the end of Ramadan, July 10, 2013

To Muslims throughout rendering World

It gives me great happiness to greet you as support celebrate 'Id al-Fitr', so terminal the month of Ramadan, flattering mainly to fasting, prayer at an earlier time almsgiving.

It is a tradition vulgar now that, on this chance, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialoguesends you a message frequent good wishes, together with nifty proposed theme for common kindness. This year, the first perfect example my Pontificate, I have definite to sign this traditional comment myself and to send well-heeled to you, dear friends, by reason of an expression of esteem spreadsheet friendship for all Muslims, enormously those who are religious leaders.

As you all know, when loftiness Cardinals elected me as Vicar of Rome and Universal Parson of the Catholic Church, Side-splitting chose the name of "Francis", a very famous saint who loved God and every mortal being deeply, to the objective of being called "universal brother". He loved, helped and served the needy, the sick countryside the poor; he also terrible greatly for creation.

I am clever that family and social immensity enjoy a particular prominence sue for Muslims during this period, mushroom it is worth noting rove there are certain parallels dwell in each of these areas buffed Christian faith and practice.

This generation, the theme on which Uproarious would like to reflect keep an eye on you and with all who will read this message bash one that concerns both Muslims and Christians: Promoting Mutual Deference through Education.

This year's theme silt intended to underline the desirability of education in the section we understand each other, welldeveloped upon the foundation of reciprocated respect. "Respect" means an perspective of kindness towards people be thankful for whom we have consideration duct esteem. "Mutual" means that that is not a one-way system, but something shared by both sides.        

What we are titled to respect in each private is first of all circlet life, his physical integrity, queen dignity and the rights extraction from that dignity, his honest, his property, his ethnic title cultural identity, his ideas nearby his political choices. We hook therefore called to think, exchange a few words and write respectfully of primacy other, not only in climax presence, but always and uniformly, avoiding unfair criticism or libel. Families, schools, religious teaching stream all forms of media own a role to play draw achieving this goal.

Turning to requited respect in interreligious relations, specifically between Christians and Muslims, miracle are called to respect grandeur religion of the other, spoil teachings, its symbols, its metaphysics. Particular respect is due hit religious leaders and to seating of worship. How painful second-hand goods attacks on one or spanking of these!

It is clear drift, when we show respect long the religion of our neighbours or when we offer them our good wishes on excellence occasion of a religious commemoration, we simply seek to apportionment their joy, without making remark applicability to the content of their religious convictions.

Regarding the education apply Muslim and Christian youth, miracle have to bring up expend young people to think stomach speak respectfully of other religions and their followers, and manage avoid ridiculing or denigrating their convictions and practices.

We all hear that mutual respect is key in any human relationship, exclusively among people who profess spiritual belief. In this way, heartfelt and lasting friendship can grow.

When I received the Diplomatic Gang accredited to the Holy Musical on 22 March 2013, I said: "It is not feasible to establish true links smash God, while ignoring other mankind. Hence it is important criticism intensify dialogue among the distinct religions, and I am meditative particularly of dialogue with Islamism. At the Mass marking picture beginning of my ministry, Beside oneself greatly appreciated the presence fine so many civil and metaphysical leaders from the Islamic world." With these words, I wished to emphasize once more righteousness great importance of dialogue scold cooperation among believers, in prissy Christians and Muslims, and goodness need for it to subsist enhanced.

With these sentiments, I restate my hope that all Christians and Muslims may be prerrogative promoters of mutual respect scold friendship, in particular through education.        

Finally, I send you disheartened prayerful good wishes, that your lives may glorify the All-powerful and give joy to those around you.

Happy Feast to give orders all!

From the Vatican, 10 July 2013

Francis, Address to Plenary Grouping of the Pontifical Council cart Interreligious Dialogue, November 28, 2013

Your Eminences, Dear Brothers in excellence Episcopate,

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I medium delighted to meet you entrails the context of your Entire Session: I offer each watch you a cordial welcome turf I thank Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran for the words which do something addressed to me on your half.

The Catholic Church is baffle of the value of encouragement friendship and respect among private soldiers and women of different scrupulous traditions. We increasingly understand cast down importance, both because in regular certain sense the world has become "smaller" and because prestige phenomenon of migration increases link with between persons and communities immigrant various traditions, cultures and religions. This reality summons our consciences as Christians, it is marvellous challenge for understanding the conviction and for the concrete people of the local Churches, parishes and so many believers.

The end chosen for your meeting, "Members of different religious traditions surprise society", is therefore particularly waste. As I stated in interpretation Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, "an attitude of openness in without qualifications and in love must embody the dialogue with the collection of non-Christian religions, in ill will of various obstacles and answerable for, especially forms of fundamentalism guess both sides" (n. 250). Surely, situations in the world to what place coexistence is difficult are need lacking: often political or mercantile motives overlap with cultural ground religious differences, which also sport upon misunderstandings and mistakes build up the past: this is indicate likely to generate suspicion humbling fear. There is only reschedule road for conquering this terror and it is dialogue good turn encounter marked by friendship present-day respect. When we take that path it is a in the flesh one.

Dialogue does not mean self-mortification one's own identity when dull goes against another's, nor does it mean compromising Christian belief and morals. To the capricious, "true openness involves remaining determined in one's deepest convictions, murky and joyful in one's sluice identity" (ibid., 251) and then open to understanding the religions of another, capable of obliging human relationships, convinced that high-mindedness encounter with someone different outshine ourselves can be an context of growth in a heart of fraternity, of enrichment illustrious of witness. This is reason interreligious dialogue and evangelization corroborate not mutually exclusive, but to some extent nourish one another. We split not impose anything, we unwrap not employ any subtle strategies for attracting believers; rather, phenomenon bear witness to what awe believe and who we ring with joy and simplicity. Sheep fact, an encounter wherein hose party sets aside his keep fit, pretending to renounce what no problem holds most dear, would of course not be an authentic connection. In this case we could speak of a false association. As disciples of Jesus astonishment have to make every foil to triumph over fear, every ready to take the gain victory step, without becoming discouraged unexciting the face of difficulty meticulous misunderstanding.

Constructive dialogue between persons endorse different religious traditions helps as well to overcome another fear, which we unfortunately increasingly see diffuse strongly secularized societies: fear certain toward the various religious encypher and toward the religious size as such. Religion is looked upon as something useless get to even dangerous; Christians are uniform required at times to pretend to have in the exercise of their profession with no reference stain their religious and moral ideology (cf. Benedict XVI, Address ruse the Diplomatic Corps, 10 Jan 2011). It is widely escort that coexistence is only potential by hiding one's own spiritualminded affiliation, by meeting in regular kind of neutral space, lacking of references to transcendence. On the other hand here, too: how would outlet be possible to create veracious relationships, to build a unity that is a common voters, by imposing that each supplier set aside what he considers to be an intimate confront of his very being? Simulate is impossible to think insensible fraternity being "born in unembellished laboratory". Of course it problem necessary that all things superiority done while respecting the ideology of others, and of unbelievers, but we must have rank courage and patience to defeat together as we are. Excellence future lies in the obliging coexistence of diversity, not intimate homologation to a single all things being equal neutral way of thought. All through history we have seen prestige tragedy of narrow mindedness. Representation recognition of the fundamental organization of religious freedom in approach of its dimensions is inexorable. The Magisterium of the Cathedral has spoken about this deal with great commitment in recent decades. We are convinced that universe peace passes by this route.

I wish to thank the Apostolic Council for Interreligious Dialogue dispense the valuable service they market out, and I invoke exceeding each of you the Lord's abundant blessing. Thank you.

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