African bishops: Christmas, Mohammed's birthday should spur interfaith dialogue

December 28, 2015

The Catholic bishops of Niger have said that the close convergence between Christmas and the Islamic celebration of Mohammed's birth should be a spur to inter-religious dialogue, the Fides news service reports.

Mohammed's birth, a moveable feast, was celebrated this year on December 24-- the closest approximation to Christmas in nearly 500 years. "This sign invites us, Christians and Muslims, to dialogue in order to bring peace to the world in the name of our common faith in Abraham, ancestor of all believers," said Archbishop Laurent Lompo of Niamey, the capital of Niger. 

Bishop Ambroise Ouedraogo of Maradi co-signed the statement. A similar message was released by Archbishop Benjamin Ndiaye of Dakar, Senegal.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• The Bishops: "The proximity of the Christian Christmas and the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet is an invitation to dialogue" (Fides)