Dear Muslim Friends,
I am pleased to welcome you to this gathering that I wanted to arrange in order to strengthen the bonds of friendship and solidarity between the Holy See and Muslim communities throughout the world. I thank Cardinal Poupard, President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, for the words that he has just addressed to me, and I thank all of you for responding to my invitation.
The circumstances which have given rise to our gathering are well known. I have already had occasion to dwell upon them in the course of the past week. In this particular context, I should like to reiterate today all the esteem and the profound respect that I have for Muslim believers, calling to mind the words of the Second Vatican Council which for the Catholic Church are the Magna Carta of Muslim-Christian dialogue: "The Church looks upon Muslims with respect. They worship the one God living and subsistent, merciful and almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to humanity and to whose decrees, even the hidden ones, they seek to submit themselves whole-heartedly, just as Abraham, to whom the Islamic faith readily relates itself, submitted to God" (Declaration Nostra Aetate, 3). Placing myself firmly within this perspective, I have had occasion, since the very beginning of my pontificate, to express my wish to continue establishing bridges of friendship with the adherents of all religions, showing particular appreciation for the growth of dialogue between Muslims and Christians (cf. Address to the Delegates of Other Churches and Ecclesial Communities and of Other Religious Traditions, 25 April 2005).
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Absolutely...But if and when they don't, the Catholics can then have them...
Likewise, the Catholic Church is having many converts from Islam.
Inside Iran: A Rising Chorus [Young Iranians leave Islam for Christianity]
Good news from Iraq: retired Iraqi general says record number of Muslims turning to Christ
Six million African Muslims leave Islam per year
There Is a Catholic Oasis in Dubai. And Another Has Sprung Up in Venice
Hong Kong diocese to baptize 2,400 catechumens
Mongolia's Catholics: 300 and Growing (Christianity introduced in 1992)
Huge Christian growth shocks China's leaders
Yes, and I do pray for that often. It's the only way to change things in this violent world.