(29 Nov 07 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI has replied to the letter written by 138 Muslim
scholars to Christian Leaders, inviting a group of them to meet with him here in the
Vatican.
The letter is addressed to Jordanian Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad
bin Talal, and signed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. In it the Pope expresses his
deep appreciation for the positive spirit which inspired the text from Muslim scholars
and its call for a common commitment to promoting peace in the world. While it
is important not to ignore or down play the difference between Christians and Muslims,
the Pope says “we can and therefore should look to what unites us, namely, belief
in the one God, the provident Creator and universal Judge”.
Reiterating his
words to representatives of Some Muslim Communities in Cologne, at the beginning of
his pontificate, the pope stressed “we must not yield to the negative pressures in
our midst, but must affirm the values of mutual respect, solidarity and peace. Adding
there is plenty of scope for acting together in the service of fundamental moral values”.
“The
common ground between the two faiths”, he says “allows us to base dialogue on respect
for the dignity of every human person on the objective knowledge of the other’s religion,
on the sharing of religious experience and, finally, on common commitment to promoting
mutual respect and acceptance among the younger generation”. The letter concludes
with an invitation to the Jordanian Prince and to a select group of the Muslim signatories
for a papal audience to encourage such initiatives.
The Pope also proposes
setting up meetings between the Muslim scholars and Vatican organisations such as
the Pontifical council for Inter Religious Dialogue, the Pontifical Institute for
Arabic and Islamic Studies and the Pontifical Gregorian University. Emer Mc Carthy
reports: