Cairo (Fides Service) - "For authentic inter-religious dialogue it is necessary to avoid confusion and to learn to recognise and respect the differences of each one". Fr Giuseppe Scattolin, Comboni missionary who teaches in Islamic Mystics in Cairo and in Rome at the Pontifical Institute for Islamic Studies. "There are a number of important areas for dialogue between religions: human rights, the universe, the environment, all questions in which all believers, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists etc. have a duty to intervene and to stress the centrality of the human person. With regard to dialogue with Muslims, Sufism, the mystical component of Islam, can make a major contribution. Sufi teaching goes further than dogmatic and legalistic understanding of Islam and creates a mind open to dialogue. However it must be said that Islam has still a long way to go before it is ready for serene confrontation with other religions. Certain ideas such as the Holy War Jihad are still very much present. Many tend to underline the peaceful meaning of Jihad, as an interior "battle" to reach personal perfection. Certainly this is one meaning of Jihad, but it also means war on non Muslims. Unfortunately Sufi mystics have not yet taken a position to overcome similar attitudes, which are an obstacle to dialogue with other believers". (Fides Service 10/12/2002)