(Vatican Radio) The
Vatican has published a message from Pope Francis to the world’s
Muslims for the conclusion of Ramadan. This year, the Islamic period of
prayer and fasting concludes between August 8th and 9th.
Though it’s usually issued by the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue, Pope Francis says at the start of his
pontificate, he wished to personally send this message of good wishes to
the world’s Muslims himself as they celebrate Id al-Fitr, breaking
their fast.
In the message, the Pope proposes a theme of common reflection “that
concerns both Muslims and Christians: Promoting Mutual Respect through
Education.”
Saying respect is a mutual “process” of kindness, Pope Francis
invited Muslims and Christians to respect each person “first of all his
life, his physical integrity, his dignity and the rights deriving from
that dignity, his reputation, his property, his ethnic and cultural
identity, his ideas and his political choices. We are therefore called
to think, speak and write respectfully of the other, not only in his
presence, but always and everywhere, avoiding unfair criticism or
defamation. Families, schools, religious teaching and all forms of media
have a role to play in achieving this goal.”
Where interreligious relations are concerned, “especially between
Christians and Muslims,” the Pope said, “ we are called to respect the
religion of the other, its teachings, its symbols, its values.
Particular respect is due to religious leaders and to places of worship.
How painful are attacks on one or other of these!”
In educating our Muslim and Christian youth, the Pope said, “we have
to bring up our young people to think and speak respectfully of other
religions and their followers, and to avoid ridiculing or denigrating
their convictions and practices.”
Reiterating “the great importance of dialogue and cooperation among
believers, in particular Christians and Muslims,” Pope Francis said
these need to be “enhanced” and he expressed his hope that people of
both faiths “may be true promoters of mutual respect and friendship, in
particular through education.”
Below, please find the text of Pope Francis’ message:
To Muslims throughout the World
It gives me great pleasure to greet you as you celebrate ‘Id al-Fitr,
so concluding the month of Ramadan, dedicated mainly to fasting, prayer
and almsgiving.
It is a tradition by now that, on this occasion, the Pontifical
Council for Interreligious Dialogue sends you a message of good wishes,
together with a proposed theme for common reflection. This year, the
first of my Pontificate, I have decided to sign this traditional message
myself and to send it to you, dear friends, as an expression of esteem
and friendship for all Muslims, especially those who are religious
leaders.
As you all know, when the Cardinals elected me as Bishop of Rome and
Universal Pastor of the Catholic Church, I chose the name of “Francis”, a
very famous saint who loved God and every human being deeply, to the
point of being called “universal brother”. He loved, helped and served
the needy, the sick and the poor; he also cared greatly for creation.
I am aware that family and social dimensions enjoy a particular
prominence for Muslims during this period, and it is worth noting that
there are certain parallels in each of these areas with Christian faith
and practice.
This year, the theme on which I would like to reflect with you and
with all who will read this message is one that concerns both Muslims
and Christians: Promoting Mutual Respect through Education.
This year’s theme is intended to underline the importance of
education in the way we understand each other, built upon the foundation
of mutual respect. “Respect” means an attitude of kindness towards
people for whom we have consideration and esteem. “Mutual” means that
this is not a one-way process, but something shared by both sides.
What we are called to respect in each person is first of all his
life, his physical integrity, his dignity and the rights deriving from
that dignity, his reputation, his property, his ethnic and cultural
identity, his ideas and his political choices. We are therefore called
to think, speak and write respectfully of the other, not only in his
presence, but always and everywhere, avoiding unfair criticism or
defamation. Families, schools, religious teaching and all forms of media
have a role to play in achieving this goal.
Turning to mutual respect in interreligious relations, especially
between Christians and Muslims, we are called to respect the religion of
the other, its teachings, its symbols, its values. Particular respect
is due to religious leaders and to places of worship. How painful are
attacks on one or other of these!
It is clear that, when we show respect for the religion of our
neighbours or when we offer them our good wishes on the occasion of a
religious celebration, we simply seek to share their joy, without making
reference to the content of their religious convictions.
Regarding the education of Muslim and Christian youth, we have to
bring up our young people to think and speak respectfully of other
religions and their followers, and to avoid ridiculing or denigrating
their convictions and practices.
We all know that mutual respect is fundamental in any human
relationship, especially among people who profess religious belief. In
this way, sincere and lasting friendship can grow.
When I received the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See on 22
March 2013, I said: “It is not possible to establish true links with
God, while ignoring other people. Hence it is important to intensify
dialogue among the various religions, and I am thinking particularly of
dialogue with Islam. At the Mass marking the beginning of my ministry, I
greatly appreciated the presence of so many civil and religious leaders
from the Islamic world.” With these words, I wished to emphasize once
more the great importance of dialogue and cooperation among believers,
in particular Christians and Muslims, and the need for it to be
enhanced.
With these sentiments, I reiterate my hope that all Christians and
Muslims may be true promoters of mutual respect and friendship, in
particular through education.
Finally, I send you my prayerful good wishes, that your lives may
glorify the Almighty and give joy to those around you. Happy Feast to
you all!
From the Vatican, 10 July 2013
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