Vatican message to Muslims calls for ‘genuine fraternity’
July 18, 2014
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has released its annual message to Muslims for the end of Ramadan, which will take place on July 28.
The statement, dated June 24, was released on July 18.
Citing statements by St. John Paul II and Pope Francis, and recalling that Pope Francis personally signed last year’s message, the president and secretary of the pontifical council stated that “Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters in the one human family, created by the One God.”
“We thank the Almighty for what we have in common, while remaining aware of our differences,” they continued. “We perceive the importance of promoting a fruitful dialogue built upon mutual respect and friendship. Inspired by our shared values and strengthened by our sentiments of genuine fraternity, we are called to work together for justice, peace and respect for the rights and dignity of every person.”
The statement added:
As we know, our contemporary world faces grave challenges which call for solidarity on the part of all people of good will. These include threats to the environment, the crisis of the global economy and high levels of unemployment particularly among young people … Let us work together, then, to build bridges of peace and promote reconciliation especially in areas where Muslims and Christians together suffer the horror of war.
May our friendship inspire us always to cooperate in facing these many challenges with wisdom and prudence. In this way we will help to diminish tension and conflict, and advance the common good. We will also demonstrate that religions can be a source of harmony for the benefit of society as a whole.
Let us pray that reconciliation, justice, peace and development will remain uppermost among our priorities, for the welfare and good of the whole human family.
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