Pope’s message to Muslims for Id-al-Fitr

August 02, 2013 - As the world’s Muslims are preparing to celebrate Id-al-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, Pope Francis is urging Christians and followers of Islam to promote mutual respect through education. The Pope’s exhortation came in his greeting and message that the Vatican released on Tuesday, ahead of this year’s Id-al-Fitr, that is scheduled for August 8 or 9, depending on sighting of the new moon in various parts of the world. The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (PCID), normally issues the annual message for the Muslim feast, but Pope Francis said, “This year, the first of my Pontificate, I have decided to sign this traditional message myself and to send it to you, dear friends, as an expression of esteem and friendship for all Muslims, especially those who are religious leaders.” This is the second time in over 40 years that a Pope is greeting Muslims for Id-al-Fitr, after that of Pope John Paul II in 1991, after the ravages of the Gulf War. Explaining the theme of this year’s message - Promoting Mutual Respect through Education – Pope Francis said, “Respect” means an attitude of kindness towards people for whom we have consideration and esteem.” “Mutual” means that this is not a one-way process, but something shared by both sides.” The Argentine Pope, elected on March 13, said, “What we are called to respect in each person is first of all his life, his physical integrity, his dignity and the rights deriving from that dignity, his reputation, his property, his ethnic and cultural identity, his ideas and his political choices.” He said followers of both religions are “therefore called to think, speak and write respectfully of the other, not only in his presence, but always and everywhere, avoiding unfair criticism or defamation.” Families, schools, religious teaching and all forms of media,” he said, “have a role to play in achieving this goal.” The 76-year old Pope particularly called for greater respect for religious leaders and places of worship, saying attacks on them are painful. He called on educating and bringing up Muslim and Christian youth “to think and speak respectfully of other religions and their followers, and to avoid ridiculing or denigrating their convictions and practices.”