Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – At the close of the General Audience held on Wednesday, December 17, the Holy Father Benedict XVI held a meeting in one of the rooms in the Paul VI Audience Hall with participants in the Colloquium co-organized by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the World Islamic Call Society (Tripoli, Libya). In a statement issued at the close of the session, it is mentioned that the Colloquium in Rome, held from 15-17 December 2008, follows other meetings which began in 1976 through the Christian-Muslin Conference held in Tripoli, then regularly continued again from 1989 until today.
The Catholic delegation was presided over by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, while the Muslim delegation was directed by Mr. Ibrahim Rabou, Head Department of Conferences, International Organizations and Relief, in the World Islamic Call Society.
The theme of the Colloquium was "Responsibilities of Religious Leaders especially in Times of Crisis". The theme was developed in three subthemes: 1) Religious Responsibilities; 2) Cultural and Social Responsibilities, and 3) Times of Crisis on the Path of Interreligious Dialogue.
The Catholic and the Muslim participants agreed on the following:
1) The first and most important responsibility of religious leaders is one of a religious nature, according to their respective religious traditions, to faithfully fulfill them through teaching, good deeds and example, thus serve their communities for the glory of God.
2) Considering the role religions can and should have in society, religious leaders also have a cultural and social role to play in promoting fundamental ethical values, such as justice, solidarity, peace, social harmony and the common good of society as a whole, especially the needy, the weak, migrants and the oppressed.
3) Religious leaders have a special responsibility towards youth, who require particular attention so that they do not fall victim to religious fanaticism and radicalism, receiving rather, a sound education thereby helping them to become bridge builders and peace makers.
4) Taking into consideration that crises of diverse nature, including in interreligious relations, are possible, on a national or international level, religious leaders should learn to prevent, cope with and remedy these particular situations, avoiding their degeneration into confessional violence. This requires a mutual respect and reciprocal knowledge, both cherishing personal relations and building confidence and mutual trust, so as to be able to confront together crises when they occur.
The two sides agreed to hold the next colloquium in Tripoli within the next two years. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 18/12/2008)
