杏MAP导航

By Seán-Patrick Lovett

Monday鈥檚 Interreligious Meeting took place within the context of the Global Conference of Human Fraternity, currently underway in Abu Dhabi. The Conference has brought together hundreds of religious leaders and scholars. It is dedicated to examining interfaith dialogue, religious freedom, combatting extremism, and promoting peace.

All of these themes were present in 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� discourse, which he delivered at the Founder鈥檚 Memorial, before some of the highest authorities in the United Arab Emirates, and members of the Diplomatic Corps.

杏MAP导航 Francis began by describing himself as 鈥渁 believer thirsting for peace鈥�. Speaking about the Interreligious Meeting itself, the 杏MAP导航 continued: 鈥淲e are here to desire peace, to promote peace, to be instruments of peace鈥�.

The Ark of Fraternity

Referencing the biblical story of Noah, the 杏MAP导航 suggested that, in order to safeguard peace, we too 鈥渘eed to enter together as one family into an ark which can sail the stormy seas of the world鈥�. This means acknowledging, 鈥淕od is at the origin of the one human family鈥�. 鈥淣o violence can be justified in the name of religion鈥�, he said.

鈥淩eligious behavior鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渘eeds continually to be purified from the recurrent temptation to judge others as enemies and adversaries鈥�. The 鈥減erspective of heaven鈥�, he said, 鈥渆mbraces persons without privilege or discrimination鈥�.

Expressing his 鈥渁ppreciation鈥� for the commitment of the United Arab Emirates 鈥渢o tolerating and guaranteeing freedom of worship, to confronting extremism and hatred鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 then posed the question: 鈥淗ow do we look after each other in the one human family?鈥�.

The Courage of Otherness

杏MAP导航 Francis proposed what he called 鈥渢he courage of otherness鈥�: recognizing the freedom and fundamental rights of others. 鈥淲ithout freedom鈥�, he said, 鈥渨e are no longer children of the human family, but slaves鈥�.

Religious freedom, he continued, is not just freedom of worship: it means seeing the other as 鈥渁 child of my own humanity whom God leaves free, and whom no human institution can coerce, not even in God鈥檚 name鈥�.

Dialogue and Prayer

杏MAP导航 Francis then turned to the importance of dialogue and prayer. Prayer, he said, 鈥減urifies the heart from turning in on itself. Prayer of the heart restores fraternity鈥�. Encouraging religions to 鈥渆xert themselves with courage and audacity鈥� in building paths of peace: 鈥淲e will either build the future together鈥�, he said, 鈥渙r there will be no future鈥�.

Education and Justice

In order to fly, continued 杏MAP导航 Francis, peace requires 鈥渢he wings of education and justice鈥�. Investing in culture, he said, 鈥渆ncourages a decrease of hatred and a growth of civility and prosperity鈥�, because 鈥渆ducation and violence are inversely proportional鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 again encouraged religious leaders to be 鈥渢he voice of the least鈥�, to 鈥渟tand on the side of the poor鈥�, to be 鈥渧igilant warnings to humanity not to close our eyes in the face of injustice鈥�.

The desert that flourishes

Using the image of the 鈥渄esert that surrounds us鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis spoke of the United Arab Emirates as 鈥渁n important crossroads鈥� between East and West, North and South. While praising the way the 鈥渄esert has flourished鈥� and become, what he called 鈥渁 place of development鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 also warned of the 鈥渋ndifference鈥� that risks converting 鈥渇lourishing realities into desert lands鈥�.

杏MAP导航 Francis provided examples of this indifference in failing to 鈥渃are about the future of creation鈥�, or 鈥渁bout the dignity of the stranger鈥�. A fraternal 鈥渓iving together, founded on education and justice, a human development built upon a welcoming inclusion and on the rights of all: these are the seeds of peace which the world鈥檚 religions are called to help flourish鈥�.

Demilitarizing the human heart

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded with a criticism of the arms race and an appeal to 鈥渄emilitarize the human heart鈥�.

鈥淲ar cannot create anything but misery鈥�, he said. 鈥淚ts fateful consequences are before our eyes鈥�. Here, the 杏MAP导航 mentioned specifically 鈥淵emen, Syria, Iraq, and Libya鈥�.

鈥淥ur being together today is a message of trust鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航, not to 鈥渟urrender to the floods of violence and the desertification of altruism. God is with those who seek peace鈥�.