“Religions have a very special responsibility for helping people build peace. Religions are a factor of peace. Let’s condemn any violence against places of worship as well as any contempt for religious symbols”. This is a passage from the Christmas Message of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, released in Jerusalem this morning during a press conference as he took stock of 2011. The document places emphasis on the importance of inter-religious dialogue, defined as a “prerequisite for the establishment of a climate of trust, friendship and cooperation”, as proven by the meetings of the Council of the Religious Leaders of Israel and Assisi with Benedict XVI and 300 leaders of other faiths and non believers, in the Vatican on 10th November. “What we expect of such meetings – the Patriarch writes – is to overcome prejudice and increase mutual respect to learn more about our shared values and thus build bridges of commonsense and goodwill, keeping in mind the importance of the dialogue of life that takes place in our everyday life, in our schools and in our different institutions”. In this respect, the Message announces the intention to “unify the date of Easter, urged by the Lord’s wish and by the unanimous will of the Christian people of the Holy Land”.
In his Message, the Latin Patriarch also speaks of the Arab Spring and the application made to the UN for acknowledgement of a Palestinian State: “I have always supported the current changes for democracy and freedom – he writes –. I have also pointed out that Christians are not left out of such movements. Saying that, I honestly hope that human rights and the dignity of every man will be respected. I hope the authorities concerned may make every effort to soothe the spirits without using violence, protecting the minorities that are an integral part of such peoples. We have to be able to seize this time to build a new society, based on equal citizenship for everyone”. As to the application to the UN, Twal, confirming the position taken by the Holy See, “two States with secure, internationally-recognised borders”, says he believes that “negotiations are always the best way to solve conflict” and “taking sides does not mean being against either side. We support the wellbeing of the whole world: peace, security, mutual respect and dignity. The process has been started but the way is still long”. Finally, Twal made a special mention about the 230 thousand foreign workers in Israel, largely Christians, for which “efforts need to be doubled to ensure a religious service that promotes the greatest social inclusion in the local Church”.

© www.agensir.it - december 21th 2011