Card. Parolin: Pope's UAE visit
opens new page in interreligious relations
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin says Pope
Francis' Apostolic Journey to the United Arab Emirates represents a new stage
in interreligious relations.
By Devin Watkins
Pope Francis sets off Sunday for his visit to Abu Dhabi on
3-5 February.
"It is the first time that a Pope is going to the
United Arab Emirates and, more generally, to the Arabic Peninsula", says
Cardinal Parolin.
He calls it an important moment because the Holy Father is
visiting a land that could be considered a bridge between East and West.
"At the same time it is a land of multiculturalism, multi-ethnicity, and
multi-religion," he points out.
Rediscover common humanity
Cardinal Parolin says the Pope's message to leaders of other
religions will be one of fraternity. In our common humanity, he says, "we
are all brothers and sisters, because we have the same dignity, we have the
same duties and rights, and we have the same vocation to build a better world:
a world of peace and reconciliation."
Interreligious dialogue, Cardinal Parolin says, can help us
to rediscover our common humanity. This includes fighting against
fundamentalism and legalism, "which is just the opposite of every religion
and of our common belonging to a same community of brothers and sisters."
Confirm Christians in faith
Pope Francis is also going to the UAE to meet with the
region's Christian community, which Cardinal Parolin says numbers around 3
million of mostly expatriates.
"The presence of the Pope will be an
encouragement" for Christians, he says, so they can "continue to be a
vibrant community" and "to strengthen their witness and their
contribution for the construction of a world of dialogue, reconciliation, and
peace."
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét