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Pope Benedict XVI- Apostolic Journey to the Holy Land |
"Here
the Paths of the World's Three Great Monotheistic Religions Meet"
Address to Muslim Leaders in Jerusalem
H.H. Benedict XVI
al-Kubbah al-Nahawiyya Building, Jerusalem, Israel
May 12, 2009
Dear Muslim Friends,
As-salámu 'aláikum! Peace upon you!
I cordially thank the Grand Mufti, Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, together
with the Director of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, Sheikh Mohammed
Azzam al-Khatib al-Tamimi, and the Head of the Awquaf Council,
Sheikh Abdel Azim Salhab, for the welcome they have extended to me
on your behalf. I am deeply grateful for the invitation to visit
this sacred place, and I willingly pay my respects to you and the
leaders of the Islamic community in Jerusalem.
The Dome of the Rock draws our hearts and minds to reflect upon the
mystery of creation and the faith of Abraham. Here the paths of the
world's three great monotheistic religions meet, reminding us what
they share in common. Each believes in One God, creator and ruler of
all. Each recognizes Abraham as a forefather, a man of faith upon
whom God bestowed a special blessing. Each has gained a large
following throughout the centuries and inspired a rich spiritual,
intellectual and cultural patrimony.
In a world sadly torn by divisions, this sacred place serves as a
stimulus, and also challenges men and women of goodwill to work to
overcome misunderstandings and conflicts of the past and to set out
on the path of a sincere dialogue aimed at building a world of
justice and peace for coming generations.
Since the teachings of religious traditions ultimately concern the
reality of God, the meaning of life, and the common destiny of
mankind -- that is to say, all that is most sacred and dear to us --
there may be a temptation to engage in such dialogue with reluctance
or ambivalence about its possibilities for success. Yet we can begin
with the belief that the One God is the infinite source of justice
and mercy, since in him the two exist in perfect unity. Those who
confess his name are entrusted with the task of striving tirelessly
for righteousness while imitating his forgiveness, for both are
intrinsically oriented to the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of
the human family.
For this reason, it is paramount that those who adore the One God
should show themselves to be both grounded in and directed towards
the unity of the entire human family. In other words, fidelity to
the One God, the Creator, the Most High, leads to the recognition
that human beings are fundamentally interrelated, since all owe
their very existence to a single source and are pointed towards a
common goal. Imprinted with the indelible image of the divine, they
are called to play an active role in mending divisions and promoting
human solidarity.
This places a grave responsibility upon us. Those who honor the One
God believe that he will hold human beings accountable for their
actions. Christians assert that the divine gifts of reason and
freedom stand at the basis of this accountability. Reason opens the
mind to grasp the shared nature and common destiny of the human
family, while freedom moves the heart to accept the other and serve
him in charity. Undivided love for the One God and charity towards
ones neighbor thus become the fulcrum around which all else turns.
This is why we work untiringly to safeguard human hearts from
hatred, anger or vengeance.
Dear friends, I have come to Jerusalem on a journey of faith. I
thank God for this occasion to meet you as the Bishop of Rome and
Successor of the Apostle Peter, but also as a child of Abraham, by
whom "all the families of the earth find blessing" (Gen 12:3; cf.
Rom 4:16-17). I assure you of the Church's ardent desire to
cooperate for the well-being of the human family. She firmly
believes that the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham is
universal in scope, embracing all men and women regardless of
provenance or social status. As Muslims and Christians further the
respectful dialogue they have already begun, I pray that they will
explore how the Oneness of God is inextricably tied to the unity of
the human family. In submitting to his loving plan for creation, in
studying the law inscribed in the cosmos and implanted in the human
heart, in reflecting upon the mysterious gift of God's
self-revelation, may all his followers continue to keep their gaze
fixed on his absolute goodness, never losing sight of the way it is
reflected in the faces of others.
With these thoughts, I humbly ask the Almighty to grant you peace
and to bless all the beloved people of this region. May we strive to
live in a spirit of harmony and cooperation, bearing witness to the
One God by generously serving one another. Thank you!
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