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Westminster Interfaith Newsletter
Issue 66 – May 2010
Pope encourages Bishops to dialogue with Muslims in Sudan
A necessary ingredient to consolidating peace in Sudan is interreligious dialogue that fosters respect and understanding, especially with Muslims, said Benedict XVI in March during the audience with Sudanese bishops, who were in Rome for their five-yearly "ad limina" visit. He praised and thanked the bishops for their work in the conflict that has scourged the country for decades.
Benedict XVI pointed out that "for peace to have deep roots, concrete efforts must be made to diminish the factors that contribute to conflicts, in particular, corruption, ethnic tensions, indifference and egoism." "The initiatives in this connection will undoubtedly be beneficial if they are based on integrity, on a sense of universal fraternity and on the virtues of justice, responsibility and charity," he said. Peace treaties, he added, "will only bear fruit if they are inspired and accompanied by the exercise of mature and morally correct leadership."
He insisted on the importance of the moral education of future leaders encouraging the bishops to "reinforce Catholic education, thus preparing the laity, in particular, to give convincing witness of Christ in all aspects of family, social and political life."
The Pope also stressed the need for interreligious dialogue, especially with Muslims. He thanked the Sudanese bishops for the efforts "to maintain good relations with the followers of Islam," and he encouraged them to cooperate with Muslims on practical initiatives. "I would encourage you to emphasize the values that Christians have in common with Muslims as basis for the 'dialogue of life,' which is a first essential step toward genuine respect and understanding between religions," he said and added:"The same openness and love must be shown to persons belonging to traditional religions."
Benedict XVI also noted the importance of the bishops' own witness as pastors. "You yourselves must be the first teachers and witnesses of our communion in the faith and love of Christ," he said, "participating in joint initiatives, listening to your collaborators, helping priests, religious and faithful to accept and help one another as brothers and sisters, without distinctions of race or ethnic group, in an exchange of gifts."
Adapted from Zenit
