Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis has enjoined Muslims to imbibe in the spirit of promoting mutual coexistence among the two major religions in the world.
The Catholic Pope’s Eid-el-Fitri message titled ‘Promoting Mutual Respect through Education’ says that he is aware that family and social dimensions enjoy a particular prominence for Muslims during this period, adding that there are certain parallels in each of these areas with Christian faith and practice.
The message reads in parts: “It is a tradition by now that on this occasion, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue sends you this message of good wishes, together with a proposed theme for common reflection. This year I have decided to sign this traditional message myself and to send it to you, dear friends, as an expression of esteem and friendship for all Muslims, especially those who are religious leaders.”
It continues: “What we are called to respect in each person is first of all his life, his physical integrity, his dignity and the rights deriving from that dignity, his reputation, his property, his ethnic and cultural identity, his ideas and his political choices.”
The Catholic Pontiff, however, charged Muslims and Christians all over the world to teach their young ones how to respect other religions and their followers, and to avoid ridiculing or denigrating their convictions and practices.
“We all know that mutual respect and peaceful coexistence is fundamental in any human relationship, especially among people who profess religious belief. In this way, sincere and lasting friendship can grow,” the message read.
Pope Francis reflected on when he received the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See on March 22, when he was newly elected as the head of the Catholic Church after the resignation of Pope Benedict xvi, when he insisted that it was not possible to establish true links with God while ignoring other people.