杏MAP导航 Francis: Jerusalem holds universal spiritual value

杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis greets participants in an interreligious dialogue group between the Holy See and Palestine, and recalls the universal value of Jerusalem for the three major monotheistic religions.

By Devin Watkins

The Holy See hosted a meeting in Rome this week of the Joint Working Group for Dialogue between the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Palestinian Commission for Interreligious Dialogue.

杏MAP导航 Francis encouraged the efforts of this working group, as he met with participants on Thursday in the Vatican.

In his greetings, the 杏MAP导航 recalled the late Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, who started the group with Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Habbash, the Religious Affairs Advisor to the President of the State of Palestine.

Spiritual significance of Jerusalem

杏MAP导航 Francis also highlighted the spiritual significance of Jerusalem, which formed the theme chosen for the working group鈥檚 meeting.

He reiterated the appeal he made in 2019 with the King of Morocco, as he called for Jerusalem to be considered by everyone as 鈥渢he common patrimony of humanity and especially of the followers of the three monotheistic religions, as a place of encounter and as a symbol of peaceful coexistence.鈥�

鈥楥ity of Peace鈥�

The Gospels, said the 杏MAP导航, note that Jerusalem was the setting for many of the events of Jesus鈥� life.

It was in the Holy City that the Lord was presented in the Temple, and was where He taught and performed miracles, and the place where He completed His mission through His passion, death, and resurrection.

Jerusalem was also where the Church was born as the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples, sending them into the world to proclaim the message of salvation.

鈥淛erusalem also has universal value, as seen from its very name, which means 鈥楥ity of Peace鈥�.鈥�

A mother weeping for suffering children

The 杏MAP导航 recalled Jesus鈥� words spoken near the Holy City before His Passion. 鈥淎s He drew near and saw the city He wept over it, saying, 鈥榃ould that even today you knew the things that make for peace!鈥欌€� (Lk 19:41-42).

杏MAP导航 Francis encouraged the members of the Holy See-Palestine Joint Working Group to dwell on the significance of Jesus鈥� words and His tears for Jersusalem.

鈥淗ow many men and women鈥擩ews, Christians, and Muslims鈥攈ave wept and in our day continue to weep for Jerusalem!鈥�

We too, he added, are moved to tears when we consider that the Holy City is like a mother who desires peace for her suffering children.

God鈥檚 compassion over ideology

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis urged the working group to recall the 鈥渧alue of compassion鈥�, as they reflect on their love for Jerusalem, which deserves 鈥渞espect and reverence on the part of all.鈥�