Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) – “The wish which we all together express is that men may be purified from the hatred and evil which continuously threaten peace and are able to reciprocally hold out their hands unaware of violence and ready to offer help and comfort to those in need... Yes! We must find within us the courage of peace. We must implore from on High the gift of peace and this peace will spread like oil which soothes, if we walk without resting the path of reconciliation. Then the desert will become a garden where justice reigns and the effect of justice will be peace.” This was the call made by Pope John Paul II at the end of a Concert for Reconciliation between Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican on Saturday 17th January. The Concert was promoted by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Unity among Christians, and its Commission for Religious Relations with Judaism. Among those present personalities and representatives of various international Jewish organisations, different Churches and Muslim religious organisations. The Concerto was performed by the "Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra" and choirs from Ankara in Hungary, Krakow in Poland, London and Pittsburgh, USA.
In his address the Pope said that the pieces selected called attention to two important points which, in a way, Judaism, Christianity and Islam have in common although the respective sacred texts treat them differently: veneration for the Patriarch Abraham and the resurrection of the dead, and he continued: “The history of relations between Jews, Christians and Muslims, Christians is marked by lights and shadows and unfortunately has known painful moments. Today we feel a pressing need for sincere reconciliation among believers in the one God. This evening we are here to give concrete expression to our commitment for reconciliation, entrusting ourselves to the universal message of music.”
The Holy Father recalled certain fundamental principles of the three religions: the Jew honours the Almighty as protector of the human person and the God of the promises of life. The Christian knows that love is the reason why God enters into relationship with mankind and that love is the answer He expects from mankind. For the Muslim, God is good, he fills the believer with his mercy. “Nourished by these convictions– the Pope continued – Jews, Christians and Muslims, cannot accept that the earth is afflicted by hatred, that humanity is ravaged by endless war da guerre senza fine”, and he ended his address with the exclamation “Omnia vincit amor!”.
(S.L.) (Fides Service 19/1/2004 – lines 31; words 428)
