Christians and Muslims and the Ways to Peace
MESSAGE FOR THE END OF RAMADAN 'Id al-Fitr 1423 A.H .
/ 2002 A.D.
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
H.E. ARCHBISHOP MICHAEL L. FITZGERALD President
Vatican City
Dear
Muslim Friends,
1. It is a pleasure for me to address you on
the occasion of 'Id al-Fitr, which concludes the month of Ramadan,
in order to offer you friendly greetings on behalf of the Pontifical
Council for Interreligious Dialogue and indeed on behalf of
the whole Catholic Church.
We are happy to receive an increasing number of replies to our
Message and also greetings on the occasion of our own festivities,
especially Christmas. We note too with pleasure that in many
places, at the local level, contacts between Christians and
Muslims are intensifying.
2. You are well aware, dear friends, how acute
has become the question of peace in our world today. Situations
where war prevails are like an open wound in the heart of humanity,
above all those conflicts which have been going on for many
years, whether in the Middle East, in Africa or in Asia. In
several countries such conflicts result in numerous innocent
victims, leading the population to despair of peace returning
to their land in the near future.
2. 3. The origin of the causes of conflict is
often to be located in hearts which refuse to be open to God.
Such hearts are characterised by egoism, by an immoderate desire
for power, domination and wealth, at the expense of others and
without any attention to the cry of distress of those who hunger
and thirst for justice and peace. While the ultimate causes
of wars are well known, we need above all to explore together
the ways to peace.
4. As believers in the One God we see it as
our duty to strive to bring about peace. Christians and Muslims,
we believe that peace is above all a gift from God. This is
why our two communities pray for peace; it is something they
are always called to do. As you know, Pope John Paul II invited
representatives of different religions to come to Assisi, the
city of St Francis, on 24 January 2002, in order to pray and
to commit themselves to peace in the world. Many Muslims, coming
from different countries, contributed to the success of this
day. All those present were exhorted not to allow the flame
of hope, symbolised by the lamp held by each official representative,
to be extinguished. Our Council, for its part, is examining
the best way to fulfil this commitment.
5. In bringing about peace, and maintaining
it, religions have an important role to play, one which in these
days more than ever is being recognised by civil society and
by Governments. In this respect, education is a domain in which
religions can make a particular contribution. We are indeed
convinced that the ways of peace include education, for through
it one can learn to recognise one's own identity and that of
the other. This identity will be clarified without coming into
opposition with that of our brothers and sisters, as if humanity
could be made up of antagonistic factions. Peace necessarily
entails an approach to the human person in truth and justice.
Education for peace also involves recognition and acceptance
of diversity, just as it includes learning about crisis management,
in order to prevent crises from degenerating into conflicts.
We are happy to see that in several countries there is increased
collaboration in this field among Muslims and Christians, especially
as regards the equitable revision of text-books for schools.
6. It is at what is a very special time for
you, the month of Ramadan in which fasting, prayer and solidarity
bring you interior peace, that I am sharing with you these reflections
on the ways to peace. I express to you, therefore, good wishes
of peace, peace in your hearts, in your families and in your
respective countries, and I invoke upon you the Blessing of
the God of Peace.
Archbishop Michael L. Fitzgerald
President
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
00120 Vatican City
Tel. 06.698.84.321 / 06.698.836.48
Fax 06.698.844.94
E-mail: pcid-office@interelg.va
.
