Muslim And Jews Have Ecumenical Meeting With Pope

Inter-faith group of religious leaders meets Pope Francis at Vatican – Co-founders of the nation’s first Jewish-Muslim brotherhood, Imam Marwan Gill and radio host Miguel Steuermann, have private audience with Pope Francis to strengthen interfaith relationship. In a historic feat of solidarity, Argentina’s Jewish and Muslim communities have arranged a meeting with the head of the Catholic Church. On Monday, the brotherhood sat down with The Supreme Pontiff as representatives of Argentina’s most populous religious minorities… Speaking with a tone of unity, the guests explained to His Holiness how the initiative arose from the Radio Shalom-Salam programme, a Jewish-Muslim dialogue, which they have produced every Sunday for over a year and a half, and how from there, they promoted activities that synergised groups within Argentine society more broadly… “It was a beautiful example of how we can achieve unity through diversity. Simply the image of having a Rabbi and an Imam being received by the head of the Catholic Church – especially as the world recovers from the pandemic and deals with ongoing global and regional conflicts – highlights the need for gestures of unity,” Imam Marwan Gill told the Times in an intervierw. “Leaders of different faiths must work together to promote peace, justice, and harmony in the world.”… “The Pope had a big impact on interfaith dialogue during his time as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He left behind an important legacy on the community by constantly working to improve the relations of different faiths,” Imam Gill added. “A few years ago, he published his great work [encyclical] Fratelli tutti, which means that all are brothers and sisters. It’s an inspiration not only for Catholics, not only for Christians, but I think for any follower of any religion. It highlights the need for accepting the diversity and theological convictions of others. It highlights the need for working hand-in-hand for the betterment of our societies and for the moral standard of humanity.” –SOURCE.

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USA AND VATICAN JOIN HANDS IN CALLING UNITY AND PEACE

ROME – On the second annual Day of Human Fraternity both religious and secular leaders have joined voices calling for greater brotherhood and solidarity, saying faith implies respect for all people regardless of their traditions or beliefs. These leaders include Pope Francis, the Grand Imam of Egypt’s prestigious Al-Azhar mosque and university, Ahmed al-Tayeb, and United States President Joe Biden. In a video message marking the Feb. 4 anniversary, Pope Francis said fraternity “is one of the fundamental and universal values that ought to undergird relationships between peoples.” “In a mutual and shared spirit of fraternity, all of us must work to promote a culture of peace that encourages sustainable development, tolerance, inclusion, mutual understanding and solidarity,” he said… These and other global challenges are “too great for any one nation or group of people to solve,” he (Biden) said, insisting that problems such as the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, and violent conflicts “require us to speak with one another in open dialogue to promote tolerance, inclusion, and understanding.”… Al-Tayeb insisted that “God willing, I will keep pursuing the commenced peace efforts, along with fellow religious leaders and lovers of goodness around the world, towards achieving peace and world fraternity and fellow feeling, and removing all the stimuli of hate, conflicts, and wars.” “We are really in bad need of amity, cooperation, and solidarity to encounter the genuine challenges threatening humanity and compromising its stability,” he said, and prayed that Allah would “always unite us for good purposes, for He alone can do that.” – SOURCE

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Ecumenical assembly marked new beginnings, according to bishop

EcumenicalReligious denominations from around South Australia converged on Port Pirie last week for the 21st Port Pirie Diocesan Assembly and in the process helped to take steps toward a more united future.

Congregation members and religious ministers from the Baptist, Catholic, Uniting, Anglican, Lutheran and New Life churches came together to worship, celebrate religious diversity and embrace what unites them at the ‘Building Bridges of Peace’ event at the Northern Festival Centre.

Port Pirie Bishop Greg O’Kelly said that the event coincided with the 500thanniversary of the Reformation – which occurred in part after Martin Luther nailed the ‘Ninety-five Theses’ to the All Saints’ Church door in Wittenberg, Germany – was an appropriate time to convene to discuss religious matters and focus on how far the Church had come.   Continue reading

Catholic and Shia Muslim leaders unite to condemn WMDs, terrorism

Nuclear_bomb_explosion_at_the_Nevada_Test_Site_April_18_1953_Photo_courtesy_of_National_Nuclear_Security_Administration_Nevada_Site_Office_CNA_12_15_14Shia Muslim religious leaders from Iran and U.S. Catholic bishops say they have a common fight against weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, and violent religious extremism.

“Christianity and Islam share a commitment to love and respect for the life, dignity, and welfare of all members of the human community,” they said in an Aug. 18 joint declaration. “Peaceful coexistence is built on equity and justice. We call upon all to work toward developing a culture of encounter, tolerance, dialogue, and peace that respects the religious traditions of others.”

The two delegations agreed that belief in one God unifies Jews, Christians, and Muslims.  Continue reading