杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

Addressing the Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani as his 鈥渄ear brother鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted that it is incumbent on religious leaders of all faiths to encourage those with responsibilities in civil society to promote political actions that protect the fundamental rights of each person and promote fraternity and mutual acceptance, as a concrete response to today's challenges.

In a letter to the spiritual leader of Iraqi Shiites, the 杏MAP导航 recalled their meeting two years ago in Najaf  describing it as 鈥渁 milestone on the path of interreligious dialogue and understanding between peoples.鈥�

The occasion was provided by a conference that took place in Najaf entitled 鈥淐atholics and Shiites facing the future. On the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥檚 visit to Iraq.鈥� The event, organized by the Community of Sant鈥橢gidio and the Al_Khoei Institute of Najaf, was attended by a delegation that included Sant鈥橢gidio members as well as Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, Cardinals Ayuso, Coutts and Louis Sako, the Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad.

In the letter, published on Tuesday by the Holy See Press Office, the 杏MAP导航 commended the Grand Ayatollah for 鈥渉is commitment to those who suffered persecution, preserving the sacredness of life and the importance of the unity of the Iraqi people.鈥�

Collaboration and friendship between believers

鈥淐ollaboration and friendship between believers of different religions are indispensable, in order to cultivate not only mutual esteem but above all that concord that contributes to the good of humanity, as the recent history of Iraq teaches us,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said.

He expressed his belief that faith-based communities must be 鈥渁 privileged place of communion and a symbol of peaceful coexistence, in which we invoke the Creator of all, for a future of unity on earth.鈥�

Freedom of religion and thought a source of harmony

We are both convinced 鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis wrote to Ayatollah al-Sistani - that 鈥渞espect for the dignity and rights of every person and every community, especially freedom of religion, thought and expression, is a source of personal and social serenity and harmony between peoples.鈥�

Thus he said, it is the duty of religious leaders, 鈥渢o encourage those with responsibilities in civil society to work to affirm a culture based on justice and peace, promoting political actions that protect the fundamental rights of each person.鈥�

Fraternity and mutual acceptance

 鈥淚t is essential that the human family rediscover a sense of fraternity and mutual acceptance, as a concrete response to today's challenges,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 continued.

To this end, he said quoting from the , 鈥渕en and women of different confessions, walking together towards God are called to meet in the enormous space of common spiritual, human and social values, and invest this in the spread of the highest moral virtues, urged by religions".

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded expressing his hope that together, Christians and Muslims, may always be 鈥渨itnesses of truth, love and hope, in a world scarred by numerous conflicts and therefore in need of compassion and healing.鈥�