Greeting to Muslims to mark month of Ramadan, ‘Id
al–Fitr
 |
| Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran |
(Vatican Radio) For the Islamic Month of Ramadan and the
feast of ‘Id al–Fitr, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has
published a message to Muslims entitled “Christians and Muslims: Caring
for our Common Home.
In the message, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the President of
the Counci (PCID), offers best wishes to Muslims and "prayerful solidarity
during this time of fasting in the month of Ramadan and the celebration
of ‘Id al–Fitr that concludes it."
The PCID points out that this year it is drawing from Pope
Francis' encyclical "Caring for our Common Home", which it notes is
addressed to the whole of humanity.
Pope Francis, Cardinal Tauran says, "draws attention to
the harm our lifestyles and decisions are causing to the environment, to
ourselves and to our fellow human beings".
The greeting goes on to say that "as believers, our
relationship with God should be increasingly shown in the way we relate to the
world around us. Our vocation to be guardians of God’s handiwork is not optional,
nor it is tangential to our religious commitment as Christians and Muslims: it
is an essential part of it."
The Cardinal concludes with, "May the religious
insights and blessings that flow from fasting, prayer and good works sustain
you, with God’s help, on the path of peace and goodness, to care for all the
members of the human family and for the whole of creation."
The month of Ramadan concludes with celebration
of ‘Id al–Fitr on June 25th.
Below please find the English translation of the the message
from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue for the month of
Ramadan and ‘Id al–Fitr.
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
Christians and Muslims:
Caring for our Common Home
MESSAGE
FOR THE MONTH OF RAMADAN AND ‘ID Al-FITR
1438 H. / 2017 A.D.
Vatican City
Dear Muslim Brothers and Sisters,
We wish to assure you of our prayerful solidarity during
this time of fasting in the month of Ramadan and the celebration of ‘Id
al–Fitr that concludes it, and we extend to you our heartfelt best wishes
for serenity, joy and abundant spiritual gifts.
This year’s Message is especially timely and significant:
fifty years ago, in 1967, only three years after the establishment of this
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) by Pope Paul VI on 19 May
1964, the first Message was sent for this occasion.
In the years that have followed, two Messages have been
particularly important: the Message of 1991, during the pontificate of Pope
John Paul II, entitled “The Path of Believers is the Way of Peace”, and the
Message of 2013, in the first year of Pope Francis’ pontificate, entitled
“Promoting Mutual Respect through Education”. Both Messages were signed by the
Pontiffs.
Among the many activities of the PCID for promoting dialogue
with Muslims, the most important and longstanding is this yearly Message for
Ramadan and for ‘Id al-Fitr addressed to Muslims throughout the
world. To share this Message in the widest way possible, the PCID is assisted
by local Catholic communities, as well as Papal Representatives present in
almost every country.
The experience of both our religious communities affirms the
value of this Message for promoting cordial relations between Christian and
Muslim neighbours and friends, by offering insights on current and pressing
issues.
For this year, the PCID offers a theme related to Pope
Francis’ Encyclical Letter “Laudato Si’– On Care for Our Common Home”,
which was addressed not only to Catholics and Christians, but to the whole of
humanity.
Pope Francis draws attention to the harm our lifestyles and
decisions are causing to the environment, to ourselves and to our fellow human
beings. There are, for example, certain philosophical, religious, and cultural
perspectives that present obstacles which threaten humanity’s relationship with
nature. To take up this challenge involves all of us, regardless of whether or
not we profess a religious belief.
The Encyclical’s title itself is expressive: the world is a
“common home”, a dwelling for all the members of the human family. Therefore,
no one person, nation or people can impose exclusively their understanding of
our planet. This is why Pope Francis appeals “for a new dialogue about how we
are shaping the future of our planet…, since the environmental challenge we are
undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affects us all” (n. 14).
Pope Francis states that “the ecological crisis is also a
summons to profound interior conversion” (no. 217). What is needed is
education, spiritual openness and a “global ecological conversion” to
adequately address this challenge. As believers, our relationship with God
should be increasingly shown in the way we relate to the world around us. Our
vocation to be guardians of God’s handiwork is not optional, nor it is
tangential to our religious commitment as Christians and Muslims: it is an
essential part of it.
May the religious insights and blessings that flow from
fasting, prayer and good works sustain you, with God’s help, on the path of
peace and goodness, to care for all the members of the human family and for the
whole of creation.
With these sentiments, we wish you once again serenity, joy
and prosperity.
From the Vatican, 19 May 2017
Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran
President
Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.l.
Secretary
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