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Pope Benedict XVI- Addresses |
Papal Address
To Muslim Leaders and Diplomats
"Lessons of the Past Must Help Us to Seek Paths of Reconciliation"
H.H. Benedict XVI
September 25 , 2006
www.zenit.org
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!
© Copyright 2006 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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