A welcome guest

One thing that has been made very clear ever since its presentation, is that the ongoing Special Assembly for the Middle East for the Synod of Bishops, is that Middle East, apart from Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories is also sixteen other States, including, of course, Lebanon. Thus, this Synod is attended not only by the Synod Fathers, by a number of fraternal delegates representing fourteen Churches and ecclesial communities with deep roots in the Middle East, but also by experts, auditors and three special guests. One of these is Muhammad Al-Sammak, political counsellor to the Grand Mufti of Lebanon.

Dr Al-Sammak, who addresses the Synod today, was also a guest at an interfaith meeting organised by the Rome-based St. Egidio community earlier this week. Speaking to Vatican Radio collaborator Luca Attanasio, he recalled that he was also one of the participants at the Special Synod for Lebanon back in 1995, and he explains the sense in having an Islamic presence in a synod. Dr. Al-Sammak says that presence launches an important “two-way message,” as “on one side, Muslims in Lebanon or in the Middle East will realise they are not alone, they are with others who have different religions, and their religion is different from Islam, and that in order to live together we have to accept and respect these differences”.

The culture of differences – he points out - is very important for the Middle East and particularly for Lebanon, as Lebanon - he says - is a “Mini Middle-East” where we have all the Churches of the Middle East as well as all the denominations of Muslims in the Middle East. “Eighteen religious communities” – he stresses – need to build bridges”. And the synod is one way of building bridges, thanks also to the participation of Muslims. Dr. Al-Sammak goes on to recall that when he represented Muslims in the first Synod for Lebanon, Pope John Paul II insisted that Muslims should not only be observers, but full participators, even in the drafting of the “lineamenta”.

Therefore - Dr. Al-Sammak explains - “that role played by a Muslim was very much appreciated by Muslim communities all over the Middle East, and understood as an openness on the part of Christianity” and this is what is happening now. Mr. Al-Sammak also recalls his role in the establishment of the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25, as a national feast day for both Christians and Muslims in Lebanon. And he says that work is underway to “arabise” this iniative so other middle eastern countries will follow Lebanon, and “by doing this Mary will be a symbol of bringing Christians and Muslims together on religious terms, not on political, economical or social terms, but based on our own religion”.

Finally, highlighting the fact that in this synod there is also an Ayatollah from Iran and a Rabbi from Israel, Dr. Al-Sammak, who is Secretary General of the Christian-Muslim committee for dialogue in Lebanon, as well as Secretary General of the Permanent Islamic Summit which includes Sunni, Shia and Drews, says that dialogue is in fact his daily bread. But – he points out - there is no dialogue with Jews because there are no Jews left in Lebanon. However – he says - in spite of this, the Synagogue in Beirut has been rebuilt by the government, and “we are hoping that Lebanese Jews will come back and live with us.”
Listen...