Vatican to Muslims: ‘Let's Overcome Violence Together’

By EDD K. USMAN

September 9, 2010, 5:07pm

Manila, Philippines – The Vatican, through its Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID), has asked over a billion Islam believers for a joint battle against violence, which is contained in a message to Muslims for Ramadan's Eid'l Fitr  (Festival of Breaking the Fast).

Eid'l Fitr, a three-day celebration, starts Friday, Sept. 10.

As seen on the Vatican's website, the Pontifical Council president, Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, and secretary, Pier Luigi Celata, signed the message that focuses on the theme "Christians and Muslims: Together in Overcoming Violence among Followers of Different Religions" which was issued last Aug. 27.

Tauran and Celata cited the significance of the Muslim month of fasting. 

"Throughout this month, you have committed yourselves to prayer, fasting, helping the neediest, and strengthening relations of family and friendship. God will not fail to reward these efforts!" they said.

They expressed delight that Christians particularly, among "believers of other religions," are spiritually close to Muslim during the days of Ramadan "as testified by the various friendly meetings which often lead to exchanges of a religious nature."

The prelates said they were pleased to think that the Vatican's message issued last Aug. 27 could contribute positively to Muslims' worship during Ramadan.

Fighting violence together, they said, is the same topic chosen in Cairo, Egypt, in February, 2009 by the Joint Committee for Dialogue put up by the Pontifical Council and Al-Azhar Permanent Committee for Dialogue among the monotheistic religions as a subject of study, reflection, and exchange.

From the results of that meeting, the prelates said violence has many causes in different religions, among them "manipulation of the religions for political or other ends; discrimination based on ethnicity or religious identity; divisions and social tensions...ignorance, poverty, and underdevelopment."

Tauran and Celata also stressed the importance of education in fostering "respect, dialogue, and fraternity in various educational arenas: at home, in school, churches, and mosques."

"Thus, we will be able to oppose violence among followers of different religions and promote peace and harmony among various religious communities," Tauran and Celata said.