Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - “The Catholic Church is ever more aware that inter-religious dialogue is part of her service to humanity in today’s world. This conviction has become, so to say, ‘daily bread’ for people who work with migrants, refugees and all the various categories of itinerant peoples”. Pope Benedict XVI said this in his address to the participants at the plenary session of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples held 15- 17 May on the theme "Migration and movement to and from Muslim countries". During the audience on 15 May the Pope said: “We live at a time when Christians are called to cultivate a style of open dialogue on the question of religion, while not renouncing to present the Christian proposal consistent with their identity to interlocutors. Increasingly we realise the importance of reciprocity in dialogue, reciprocity which the Instruction Erga migrantes caritas Christi rightly defines as a "principle" of great importance. Dialogue is a "relation founded on reciprocal respect" and before this "an attitude of heart and mind " (n. 64). That this commitment is important and sensitive is demonstrated by efforts made in many communities to build with immigrants relations of mutual knowledge and esteem ever more useful for overcoming prejudice and closed minds.”
Referring to the theme of the Plenary assembly the Pope said it “concerns a social reality ever more topical. Mobility involving Muslim countries deserves special reflection not only for the quantitative relevance of the phenomenon but above all because the Islamic identity is characteristic from the religious and cultural point of view”.
The constant reference point for the Christian community as it strives to welcome and dialogue with migrants and itinerant peoples , “is Christ who left his disciples as a rule of life, the new commandment of love”. Then Pope Benedict XVI urged believers to “open their arms and hearts to every person, whatever country he or she comes from, leaving to the authorities of public life to establish according to opportune laws for healthy co-existence. Continually encouraged to bear witness to the love taught by the Lord Jesus Christ, Christians must open their hearts especially to the poorest and most vulnerable of people in whom in a singular manner Christ is present. Doing this they reveal the most qualifying character proper to Christian identity: that loved which Christ lived and continues to transmit to the Church through the Gospel and the Sacraments. Of course it is to be hoped that Christians who emigrate to Muslim countries will find there acceptance and respect for the religious identity.”
Concluding his address the Pope thanked the participants at the Plenary Assembly for their efforts to provide “organic and effective pastoral care for migrants and itinerant peoples”, and he underlined that “this is an important frontier of new evangelisation in today’s globalised world”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 16/5/2006 - righe 37; parole 506)
