Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, opens in Vienna
November 27, 2012: A major new interreligious initiative in which the Holy See is
participating as the ‘founding observer’ was inaugurated on Monday in Vienna, Austria.
The initiative, originally of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, and is
named after him, the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural
Dialogue, or KAICIID, is a joint effort of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom
of Spain, and the Republic of Austria, with the Holy See as a Founding Observer. The
Holy See was represented on Monday by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
(Full text of Cardinal
Jean-Louis Tauran’s address) Your Holiness, Your Excellencies, Ladies and
gentlemen, it is my privilege to bring to this assembly the greetings of His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI, as well as his prayerful wishes for the success of the activity
of this Dialogue Centre. Ladies and gentlemen, we are being watched. Everyone is
expecting from the initiative of His Majesty King Abdullah, supported by the governments
of Austria and Spain, with the assistance of the Holy See as Founding Observer, honesty,
vision and credibility.
This Centre presents another opportunity for open dialogue
on many issues, including those related to fundamental human rights, in particular
religious freedom in all its aspects, for everybody, for every community, everywhere.
In this regard, you will understand that the Holy See is particularly attentive to
the fate of Christian communities in countries where such a freedom is not adequately
guaranteed. Information, new initiatives, aspirations, and perhaps also failures will
be brought to our attention. It then will be the task of the Centre – and when possible
with the cooperation of other organizations – to verify their authenticity and to
act consequently, in order that our contemporaries not be deprived of the light and
the resources that religion offers for the happiness of every human being.
Believers
have to work for and to support all that favours the human person in his material,
moral and religious aspirations. So three attitudes are required: 1) respect of
the other in his/her specificity; 2) mutual objective knowledge of the religious
tradition of each other, particularly through education,; 3) collaboration in
order that our pilgrimage towards the Truth be realized in freedom and serenity. Concluding
and quoting Pope Benedict XVI, I would like to assure you of the cooperation of the
Catholic Church: “By her presence, her prayer and her various works of mercy, especially
in education and health care, she wishes to give her best to everyone. She wants to
be close to those who are in need, near to those who search for God.” (Apostolic Journey
to Benin, Welcome Ceremony, 18 November 2011). It is in this spirit of brotherhood
and friendship that we have to work! Thank you.