Card Ricard: Dialogue necessary to prepare for future

(Vatican Radio) Bishops and delegates in charge of relations with Muslims in Europe are meeting in St Maurice in Switzerland from 13-15 May. The representatives of the European Bishops’ Conferences are discussing the theme of “The Radicalization of Islam: Experience of Dialogue in Act.”

In his opening address, Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, the Archbishop of Bordeaux, asked a number of probing questions about the state of Islam in the contemporary world. “What is the true face of Islam? Can there be a peaceful perception of the presence of Muslims in our European societies? Are we perhaps seeing a radicalisation of some Muslims? How can we analyse the different currents sweeping through Muslim communities today? What do we think of those young people who ‘convert’ to Islam and are tempted to join the armed forces of the Islamic State?"

He noted that the international situation, including attacks in different European countries, have focused awareness on how conflict in the Middle East can affect our daily lives; he also spoke of the experience of Christians who have been expelled from their homes by the so-called Islamic state. These actions, he said, have led to an increase in “Islamophobic reactions,” even, at times, in Christian communities.

Cardinal Ricard suggested “analysing with realism our situation today” and strongly expressing our convictions as a beginning to finding solutions to the issues he raised at the beginning of his address. We know, he said, that "only the path of dialogue, awareness, collaboration and mutual respect can realistically prepare for the future. This is both a challenge for our societies and a call from the Lord."

Below, please find the complete text of the press release by the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) on Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard’s address:

Radicalisation of Islam and the increase in Islamophobia in Europe

Cardinal Ricard: "Only the path of dialogue, awareness, collaboration and mutual respect can realistically prepare for the future"

St Maurice, 13 May 2015 – “What is the true face of Islam? Can there be a peaceful perception of the presence of Muslims in our European societies? Are we perhaps seeing a radicalisation of some Muslims? How can we analyse the different currents sweeping through Muslim communities today? What do we think of those young people who ‘convert’ to Islam and are tempted to join the armed forces of the Islamic State?". With these questions Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, Archbishop of Bordeaux, yesterday afternoon opened the meeting of bishops and delegates from the Bishops’ Conferences in charge of relations with Muslims in Europe (St Maurice, 13-15 May 2015).

For Cardinal Ricard, "the evolution of the international situation, its impact on the European continent and the attacks which have taken place in different European countries, have suddenly made us aware that the conflict in the Middle East could reach us in our daily lives. The drama of the expulsion of Christians in areas which have passed to the control of the Islamic State has touched many members of our Christian communities. The assertion of an Islam, conqueror and warrior, by leaders of this State, has disturbed consciences”. Hence the increase in Islamophobia in Europe to which the Cardinal Archbishop of Bordeaux referred. “We see in our societies an increase in Islamophobic reactions. I am struck by the fact that these are being expressed ever more openly, even in our Christian communities. We notice that a certain number of Muslims take badly the fact of being continually challenged to show their loyalty to the laws of our European societies, when they are not considered simply as a ‘fifth column’, the accomplices of a tough and conquering Islam”.

To respond to these questions, the solution proposed by Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard is that of “analysing with realism our situation today and to strongly express our convictions once again. We know that: only the path of dialogue, awareness, collaboration and mutual respect can realistically prepare for the future. This is both a challenge for our societies and a call from the Lord”.