| Current Major Worldly Events: Pope Francis’ goodwill efforts to unify Christianity and Islam… 17.) Earlier this year in February—at the Global Conference of Human Fraternity for 'inter-faith dialogue and shared commitment to closer relations'—attended by nearly 700 religious leaders, thinkers and representatives from 12 religions… Top Catholic leader, Pope Francis cordially met with a top Sunni Muslim leader, Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar—and together signed a Document* that truthfully declares: (i) “The pluralism and the diversity of religions, colour, sex, race and language are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created human beings. This divine wisdom is the source from which the right to freedom of belief and the freedom to be different derives. …” (ii) “Faith leads a believer to see in the other a brother or sister to be supported and loved. … believers are called to express this human fraternity by safeguarding creation … especially the poorest and those most in need. (iii) “... Situations of injustice and lack of equitable distribution of natural resources – which only a rich minority benefit from, to the detriment of the majority of the peoples of the earth – have generated, and continue to generate, vast numbers of poor, infirm and deceased persons. … In the face of such crises that result in the deaths of millions of children … from poverty and hunger – there is an unacceptable silence on the international level.” |
| 18.) Pope Francis also said during the Conference, a.) “No one.. can believe in God and not seek to live in justice with everyone, according to the Golden Rule: ‘whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them … (Matthew 7:12).’ b.) “Peace and justice are inseparable! ... Peace dies when it is divorced from justice, but justice is false if it is not universal. A justice addressed only to family members, compatriots, believers of the same faith is a limping justice .. is a disguised injustice! c.) “The enemy of fraternity is an individualism which translates into the desire to affirm oneself and one’s own group above others. This danger threatens all aspects of life, … True religious piety consists in loving God with all one’s heart and one’s neighbour as oneself. … Each belief system is called to overcome the divide between friends and enemies, in order to take up the perspective of heaven, which embraces persons without privilege or discrimination.” d.) “God is with those who seek peace. From heaven he blesses every step which, on this path, is accomplished on earth.” |
| Pope Francis shaking hands with Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar (photo from Vatican Media). |
| Religion representatives listening during the 2nd session of the Global Conference of Human Fraternity (photo by Chris Whiteoak / The National). |
* ‘A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together’
(February 4, 2019)—see full text here.
(February 4, 2019)—see full text here.