The Pope's speech to the representatives from the Muslim Community, Ambassadors to
the Holy See from predominantly Muslim countries and representatives of Italy's Muslim
Community.
Dear Cardinal Poupard, Your Excellencies, Dear Muslim Friends,
I am
pleased to welcome you to this gathering that I wanted to arrange in order to strengthen
the bonds of friendship and solidarity between the Holy See and Muslim communities
throughout the world. I thank Cardinal Poupard, President of the Pontifical Council
for Inter-Religious Dialogue, for the words that he has just addressed to me, and
I thank all of you for responding to my invitation. The circumstances which have
given rise to our gathering are well known. I have already had occasion to dwell
upon them in the course of the past week. In this particular context, I should like
to reiterate today all the esteem and the profound respect that I have for Muslim
believers, calling to mind the words of the Second Vatican Council which for the Catholic
Church are the Magna Carta of Muslim-Christian dialogue: “The Church looks upon Muslims
with respect. They worship the one God living and subsistent, merciful and almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to humanity and to whose decrees, even
the hidden ones, they seek to submit themselves whole-heartedly, just as Abraham,
to whom the Islamic faith readily relates itself, submitted to God” (Declaration Nostra
Aetate, 3). Placing myself firmly within this perspective, I have had occasion, since
the very beginning of my pontificate, to express my wish to continue establishing
bridges of friendship with the adherents of all religions, showing particular appreciation
for the growth of dialogue between Muslims and Christians (cf. Address to the Delegates
of Other Churches and Ecclesial Communities and of Other Religious Traditions, 25
April 2005). As I underlined at Cologne last year, “Inter-religious and inter-cultural
dialogue between Christians and Muslims cannot be reduced to an optional extra. It
is, in fact, a vital necessity, on which in large measure our future depends” (Meeting
with Representatives of Some Muslim Communities, Cologne, 20 August 2005). In a world
marked by relativism and too often excluding the transcendence and universality of
reason, we are in great need of an authentic dialogue between religions and between
cultures, capable of assisting us, in a spirit of fruitful co-operation, to overcome
all the tensions together. Continuing, then, the work undertaken by my predecessor,
Pope John Paul II, I sincerely pray that the relations of trust which have developed
between Christians and Muslims over several years, will not only continue, but will
develop further in a spirit of sincere and respectful dialogue, based on ever more
authentic reciprocal knowledge which, with joy, recognizes the religious values that
we have in common and, with loyalty, respects the differences. Inter-religious
and inter-cultural dialogue is a necessity for building together this world of peace
and fraternity ardently desired by all people of good will. In this area, our contemporaries
expect from us an eloquent witness to show all people the value of the religious dimension
of life. Likewise, faithful to the teachings of their own religious traditions, Christians
and Muslims must learn to work together, as indeed they already do in many common
undertakings, in order to guard against all forms of intolerance and to oppose all
manifestations of violence; as for us, religious authorities and political leaders,
we must guide and encourage them in this direction. Indeed, “although considerable
dissensions and enmities between Christians and Muslims may have arisen in the course
of the centuries, the Council urges all parties that, forgetting past things, they
train themselves towards sincere mutual understanding and together maintain and promote
social justice and moral values as well as peace and freedom for all people” (Declaration,
Nostra Aetate, 3). The lessons of the past must therefore help us to seek paths of
reconciliation, in order to live with respect for the identity and freedom of each
individual, with a view to fruitful co-operation in the service of all humanity.
As Pope John Paul II said in his memorable speech to young people at Casablanca in
Morocco, “Respect and dialogue require reciprocity in all spheres, especially in that
which concerns basic freedoms, more particularly religious freedom. They favour peace
and agreement between peoples” (no. 5). Dear friends, I am profoundly convinced
that in the current world situation it is imperative that Christians and Muslims engage
with one another in order to address the numerous challenges that present themselves
to humanity, especially those concerning the defence and promotion of the dignity
of the human person and of the rights ensuing from that dignity. When threats mount
up against people and against peace, by recognizing the central character of the human
person and by working with perseverance to see that human life is always respected,
Christians and Muslims manifest their obedience to the Creator, who wishes all people
to live in the dignity that he has bestowed upon them. Dear friends, I pray with
my whole heart that the merciful God will guide our steps along the paths of an ever
more authentic mutual understanding. At this time when for Muslims the spiritual
journey of the month of Ramadan is beginning, I address to all of them my cordial
good wishes, praying that the Almighty may grant them serene and peaceful lives.
May the God of peace fill you with the abundance of his Blessings, together with the
communities that you represent!