Small step from religious leaders offers hope
Agreement between Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar could bear fruits of peace
It is easy to become discouraged. This is especially true when we look at the state of our world today.
There seems to be more division, animosity, anger and far less trust, respect and co-operation between individuals and nations. That is why when something positive happens, it is always welcome news.
Pope Francis has just completed a historic three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (Feb. 3 to 5). This is the first time a pope has travelled to the Arabian Peninsula. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, invited the Pope to inaugurate a national “Year of Tolerance.” This visit is a very significant step forward in the Christian-Muslim dialogue.
On the final day of the trip Pope Francis met with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al Tayyeb. He is a Muslim scholar, former university president and is considered to be one of the highest authorities in Sunni Islam. They signed a statement titled “A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.”
This is very significant because these two religious leaders pledged to work together in perpetuity and to reject violence and radicalism. In their declaration they highlight the fact that despite the diversity of cultures and traditions, the Christian and Islamic worlds appreciate and protect common values: life, family, religious sense, honour for the elderly, the education of young people, safeguarding creation and supporting all persons, especially the poorest and those most in need.
It is addressed to all persons, both religious and non-religious, and extends to them an invitation to work together to help advance a culture of mutual respect. War, hatred and extremism can be overcome if we promote the values of mutual understanding, human fraternity and harmonious coexistence.
The document acknowledges that religion has at times been a source of conflict; however, it can also be a source of peace and harmony when people of faith work together.
“We thus call upon all concerned to stop using religions to incite hatred, violence, extremism and blind fanaticism, and to refrain from using the name of God to justify acts of murder, exile, terrorism and oppression … These tragic realities are the consequence of a deviation from religious teachings. They result from a political manipulation of religions and from interpretations made by religious groups who, in the course of history, have taken advantage of the power of religious sentiment in the hearts of men and women in order to make them act in a way that has nothing to do with the truth of religion.”
The document invites all people of the world to work together to overcome division and extremism through tolerance.
“Through this document we call upon ourselves, upon the leaders of the world as well as the architects of international policy and world economy, to work strenuously to spread the culture of tolerance and of living together in peace … We call upon intellectuals, philosophers, religious figures, artists, media professionals and men and women of culture in every part of the world, to rediscover the values of peace, justice, goodness, beauty, human fraternity and coexistence in order to confirm the importance of these values as anchors of salvation for all, and to promote them everywhere.”
Pope Francis has stated it is his hope and prayer that “A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” will be like scattered seed that will eventually bear much fruit in the dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
What was once unthinkable has taken place. This small step is indeed encouraging and offers hope.