Archbishop Fitzgerald on human rights and interfaith dialogue

(Vatican Radio) Pope John XXIII’s encyclical ‘Pacem in Terris’ contains key principles of religious freedom that continue to have relevance for interreligious relations today. That’s the view of Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, former nuncio to Egypt and former president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Now based in Jerusalem, he was in Rome attending a recent conference marking the 50^th anniversary of Pope John’s encyclical letter.
Philippa Hitchen caught up with Archbishop Fitzgerald to find out how that Cold War era document can help those working to end religious persecution around the world today

Listen:

“I do think it gives principles…..there’s no mention of persecution of Christians, but the attitude was not to condemn but to see what are the good things that need to be supported…
There are principles of religious freedom, to practice one’s religion, not only in private but also in public, and freedom of conviction so that one can change one’s religion and this presents problems in the Islamic world in many countries….there’s one country which doesn’t allow any churches or any public worship at all and that’s against fundamental human rights.
I think the way forward is to found our dialogue on human rights and I think we can work together on that….
There have been some very encouraging signs ….an initiative taken by Al-Azhar to bring priests and imams together…..if they can have an open attitude towards ministers of other religions, this will translate into common action and support – and there have been signs of support by Muslims for Christians who’ve been attacked….”