ASIA/PAKISTAN - Day of Human Fraternity, Archbishop Arshad: need to build a peaceful society in Pakistan

Thursday, 4 February 2021 fraternity fratelli tutti dialogue islam christianity

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Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - "The International Day of Human Fraternity is a milestone for humanity that will motivate everyone in Pakistan to promote peace, harmony, inclusion, tolerance, understanding, solidarity and brotherhood among all human beings". This is what Archbishop Joseph Arshad, at the head of the diocese of Bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan, declares in a message sent to Agenzia Fides, on the occasion of the International Day of Human Fraternity, proclaimed by the UN on 4 February.
The initiative, the Archbishop recalls, was inspired by the meeting between Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, which took place in Abu Dhabi, on February 4, 2019, when the two leaders signed the "Document on Human Fraternity, for World Peace and Coexistence". On 20 August 2019 the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity was established in order to implement the aforementioned document. Subsequently, on 3 October 2020, Pope Francis published the Encyclical Letter "Fratelli Tutti", on Fraternity and Social Friendship. Finally, on December 21, 2020, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared February 4 the annual International Day of Human Fraternity.
Archbishop Arshad remarks: "The Day comes at a time when the world is facing the global crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic and, in this context, the world seeks greater unity, solidarity and multilateral cooperation". "The precious contribution of people of all religions to humanity and dialogue between all religious groups can lead to a better awareness and understanding of common values, shared by all humanity", the text continues. It is necessary to recognize that "tolerance, the pluralistic tradition, mutual respect promote human fraternity" and "encourage activities aimed at promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue in order to improve peace and social stability, respect for diversity, creating at global, regional and national levels in Pakistan an environment conducive to peace and mutual understanding".
Archbishop Arshad then underlines that "despite our differences, we can all collaborate in order to work together for peace and harmony in the spirit of human fraternity". To this end, he invites everyone "to contribute tirelessly to building a peaceful society in Pakistan in the spirit of human fraternity so that we can all work together for the betterment of the human family". (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 4/2/2021)