杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

杏MAP导航 Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayyeb, signed the in Abu Dhabi in February 2019.

Now that document has led the UAE to set up a high committee to spread the principles of tolerance and cooperation, especially through education.

杏MAP导航鈥檚 gratitude

On Monday, the 杏MAP导航 encouraged the committee鈥檚 work and thanked the UAE 鈥渇or the concrete commitment shown on behalf of human fraternity鈥�. He also expressed hope that similar initiatives may spring up in other parts of the world.

鈥淎lthough sadly evil, hatred, and division often make news, there is a hidden sea of goodness that is growing and leads us to hope in dialogue, reciprocal knowledge and the possibility of building 鈥� together with the followers of other religions and all men and women of good will 鈥� a world of fraternity and peace.鈥�

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, announced the Holy Father鈥檚 appreciation and remarks in a press statement.

Educational focus

Bishop Miguel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, is a member of the UAE committee.

In an interview with Vatican Radio鈥檚 Alessando Gisotti, Bishop Ayuso said the initiative is 鈥渧ery important鈥� and that it will help educators get to the heart of the Document on Human Fraternity.

鈥淭he opportunity to educate ourselves and others in a culture of encounter, fraternity, and peace means finding the will to redesign the academic and educational programs offered by Institutes and universities.鈥�

Bishop Ayuso said such a rethink of schooling in this context 鈥渄emands that institutions take care to study, reflect, and present the content of the Document at all levels.鈥�

The high committee, he said, needs to 鈥渆xplore various ways to involve both national and international institutions, as well as religious, academic, and political leaders, all the while seeking to reach young people.鈥�

He also thanked Abu Dhabi鈥檚 Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nayhan, for the committee鈥檚 creation.

Danger of syncretism?

Bishop Ayuso deflected criticism from some Catholic quarters that the Document on Human Fraternity is a pathway towards syncretism or relativism.

鈥淚t is not about creating a 鈥榤elting pot鈥� in which all religions are considered equal,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut [recognizing] that all believers, those who seek God, and all people of good will without religious affiliation are equal in dignity.鈥�

He added that the Catholic Church always engages in interreligious dialogue by remembering 鈥渢he value of her own identity鈥�.

鈥淧luralism in our societies 鈥� not only the religious kind 鈥� is a reality that invites us to reflect on our identity, without which authentic interreligious dialogue is impossible.鈥�