"Courtyard of the Gentiles" to promote dialogue with non-believers
(VIS) In the Holy See Press Office at midday Friday, the presentation took place of
the "Courtyard of the Gentiles", an initiative by the Pontifical Council for Culture
which will involve two days of meeting and dialogue between believers and non-believers
in Paris, France, on 24 and 25 March. Participating in today's press conference
were Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture,
Fr. Jean-Marie Laurent Mazas F.S.J., executive director of the "Courtyard of the Gentiles",
and Stanislas de Laboulaye, French ambassador to the Holy See. Cardinal Ravasi
explained that "at the request of Benedict XVI the Church has decided to embark on
a new stage of dialogue, exchange and joint activity among believers and non-believers.
This has been entrusted to the Pontifical Council for Culture". The name "Courtyard
of the Gentiles" evokes "the image of the vast area near the Temple of Jerusalem reserved
for debates between Jews and non-Jews", the cardinal said. "It complements inter-religious
dialogue which has been going on for some decades and represents a long-term commitment
of the Church which will interest many people in the world, believers and non-believers
alike". "The aim", Cardinal Ravasi continued, "is to help to ensure that the great
questions about human existence, especially the spiritual questions, are borne in
mind and discussed in our societies, using our common reason". The president of
the pontifical council went on: "That symbol of apartheid and sacral separation which
was the wall of the 'Courtyard of the Gentiles' was cancelled by Christ. He wished
to eliminate barriers so as to ensure a harmonious meeting between the two peoples.
... Believers and non-believers stand on different ground, but they must not close
themselves in a sacral or secular isolationism, ignoring one another or, worse still,
launching taunts or accusations as do fundamentalists on one side and the other. Of
course, differences must not be skimmed over, contradictory ideas must not be dismissed,
or discordances ignored, ... but thoughts and words, deeds and decisions can be confronted,
and even come together", he said. Relations between Christians and Gentiles "can
follow the paradigm of a duel", the cardinal concluded, "but what the 'Courtyard of
the Gentiles' wishes to propose is, by contrast, a duet. A duet in which the sound
of the voices may be at antipodes - such as a bass and a soprano - yet manage to create
a harmony without renouncing their own identity; in other words, ... without fading
away into a vague ideological syncretism". The inaugural session of the "Courtyard
of the Gentiles" will take place on the afternoon of 24 March at the Paris headquarters
of UNESCO, presided by Irina Bokova, director general of UNESCO, and attended by diplomats
and representatives of the world of culture. A number of initiatives are scheduled
to be held on Friday 25 March: in the morning at the Sorbonne University and in the
afternoon at the "Institut de France" and the "College des Bernardins". The day will
conclude with a celebration on the forecourt of the cathedral of Notre Dame with the
theme: "Into the Courtyard of the Unknown". The event is open to everyone, especially
young people. The Pope will address those present from giant screens set up for the
occasion, explaining the significance and objectives of the Pontifical Council for
Culture's initiative.