VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 28, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican sent a message congratulating Muslims for the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, and encouraging them to unite with Christians in promoting a culture of peace.
In a message published today and signed by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran and Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, respectively, the Vatican encouraged working together for the common good.
"It matters that all of us witness to our religious beliefs with a life increasingly integrated and in conformity with the Creator’s plan," the message said, "a life concerned with serving our brothers and sisters in ever increasing solidarity and fraternity with members of other religions and all men of good will, in the desire to work together for the common good."
The statement said that all religious believers have "a duty above all to work in favor of peace, by showing respect for the convictions of individuals and communities everywhere through freedom of religious practice."
It continued: "Religious freedom, which must not be reduced to mere freedom of worship, is one of the essential aspects of freedom of conscience, which is the right of every individual and a cornerstone of human rights.
"It takes into account the requirement that a culture of peace and solidarity between men can be built […] doing everything one can to reject, denounce and refuse every recourse to violence which can never be motivated by religion, since it wounds the very image of God in man.
"We know that violence, especially terrorism which strikes blindly and claims countless innocent victims, is incapable of resolving conflicts and leads only to a deadly chain of destructive hatred, to the detriment of mankind and of societies."
Education
The message from the pontifical council urged Christians and Muslims to unite in educating children in a culture of peace.
"Together, as members of different religious traditions, we are called to spread a teaching which honors all human creatures, a message of love between individuals and peoples," the statement said. "We are particularly responsible for ensuring that our young people, who will be in charge of tomorrow’s world, are formed in this spirit.
"It is thus more urgent than ever to teach to the younger generations, those fundamental human, moral and civic values which are necessary to both personal and community life. All instances of incivility must be made use of to remind the young of what is waiting for them in social life.
"It is the common good of every society and of the entire world which is at stake."
ZE07092807 - 2007-09-28