Posted on 07/05/2016 4:59:21 AM PDT by piusv
VATICAN CITY — The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on Friday sent a message to the Muslim world, as they observe the month of Ramadan and approach the feast of ‘Id al-Fitr.
The message, signed by French cardinal His Eminence Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, is called: Christians and Muslims: Beneficiaries and Instruments of Divine Mercy.
Christians and Muslims: Beneficiaries and Instruments of Divine Mercy
Dear Muslim brothers and sisters, 1. The month of Ramadan and ‘Id al-Fitr is an important religious event for Muslims around the world, focused on fasting, prayer and good deeds, and is esteemed by Christians, your friends and neighbors. On behalf of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and Christians all over the world, we extend best wishes for a spiritually rewarding fast, supported by good deeds, and for a joyful feast.
As is our cherished custom, we wish to share with you on this occasion some reflections in the hope of strengthening the spiritual bonds we share.
2. A theme that is close to the hearts of Muslims and Christians alike is mercy. We know that Christianity and Islam both believe in a merciful God, who shows his mercy and compassion towards all his creatures, in particular the human family. He created us out of an immense love. He is merciful in caring for each of us, bestowing upon us the gifts we need for our daily life, such as food, shelter and security. God’s mercy is manifested in a particular way, however, through the pardon of our faults; hence he is the one who pardons (al-Ghâfir), but the one who pardons much and always (al-Ghafour).
3. To underscore the importance of mercy, His Holiness Pope Francis declared a Jubilee Year of Mercy to be celebrated from 8 December 2015 to 20 November 2016. In this regard he said: “Here… is the reason for the Jubilee: because this is the time for mercy. It is the favorable time to heal wounds, a time not to be weary of meeting all those who are waiting to see and to touch with their hands the signs of the closeness of God, a time to offer everyone, everyone, the way of forgiveness and reconciliation” (“Homily”, 11 April 2015).
Your pilgrimage (hajj) to the Holy places, mainly Mecca and Medina, is surely a special time for you to experience God’s mercy. In fact, among the well-known aspirations addressed to Muslim pilgrims is: “I wish you a blessed pilgrimage, praiseworthy efforts and the pardon of your sins.” Making a pilgrimage to obtain God’s pardon for sins, both for the living and dead, is truly a salient custom practice among believers.
4. We, Christians and Muslims, are called to do our best to imitate God. He, the Merciful, asks us to be merciful and compassionate towards others, especially those who are in any kind of need. So too he calls us to be forgiving of one another.
When we gaze upon humanity today, we are saddened to see so many victims of conflicts and violence – here we think in particular of the elderly, and children and women, especially those who fall prey to human trafficking and the many people who suffer from poverty, illness, natural disasters and unemployment.
5. We cannot close our eyes to these realities, or turn away from these sufferings. It is true that situation is often very complex and that their solution exceeds our capacities. It is vital, therefore, that all work together in assisting those in need. It is a source of great hope when we experience or hear of Muslims and Christians joining hands to help the needy. When we do join hands, we heed an important command in our respective religions and show forth God’s mercy, thus offering a more credible witness, individually and communally, to our beliefs.
May the Merciful and Almighty God help us to walk always along the path of goodness and compassion!
6. We join our prayerful good wishes to those of Pope Francis for abundant blessings during Ramadan and for a lasting joy of ‘Id al-Fitr.
Happy Feast to you all!
From the Vatican, 10 June 2016
Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran President
Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.I. Secretary
The new religion marches on.....
Meanwhile, Islam continues its longstanding plan to destroy Christians and christian faith. (May the good Lord stop this new Pope before he does any more damage with his embarrassing kissing Satan -Mohammed’s rump ...)
Waiting to hear a reciprocal statement from the Islamic clergy of any size congregation. As for ISIS, Taliban or 13th Iman Shia, it is more likely that a reply would be an invitation to convert or die.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7SEmki6Tn4
And a Ramadan dinner celebration in a .... “Catholic” church.
Is the Church Catholic anymore?
This is effeminacy on parade. From the Pope on down, the clerical culture says, “Surrender.” Thus, the Pope and his toadies call for No Borders, socialism, surrender to Islam.
6 minutes of facts and common sense about islam. Only the brain dead or Democrats or “progressives” (but I repeat myself TWICE!) will reject this information!
We Americans had best pay close attention to what is happening in Europe!
Paul Weston, British politician, chairman of Liberty GB, parliamentary candidate, and member of the Pegida UK leadership team, has a point to make about Islam being a religion of peace as PM of Britain, David Cameron had stated. This is a lucid explanation of why Islam is not, historically or religiously, a religion of peace.
Weston’s explanation, using detailed examples is clear and alarming. As Muslims reach larger and larger numbers in Great Britain, it may be important for David Cameron along with all the citizens of Great Britain to hear what he has to say.
http://www.israelvideonetwork.com/paul-weston-went-off-on-pro-muslim-politicians-and-it-was-epic/
The hajj is no substitute for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Dear Lord!
I assume that his call to accept Christ as Savior is in the next paragraph.
Are the catholics ever planning to restore a “real” Pope to replace the one that was overthrown, or are they permanently on this moronic “new age” path?
I’m done with this Pope. He has no intellect at all if he expresses such an asinine idea.
If Islam is just as good as Christianity, to the head Christian and Islam will kill you if you do not become Moslem then the answer is obvious. Everyone should become Moslem.
Dear Crocodile brothers and sisters,
The annual migration of Wildebeests across the Serengeti is an important month in the Crocodile year, marked by feasting, joyous gatherings, and the slaughter of many migrating Wildebeests. On behalf of the Wildebeest Community of the Serengeti, we extend best wishes to our Crocodile brothers and sisters for a spiritually rewarding feast...
“Are the catholics ever planning to restore a “real” Pope to replace the one that was overthrown, or are they permanently on this moronic “new age” path?”
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I assume you mean the rank-and-file Catholics, of which I think half are still in shock and the other half are powerless to do/make anything happen. Apparently most of the higher-ups (Bishops and Cardinals)of the Church are either complicit in this or don’t care enough to raise a stink about it.
Similar to watching your country being fundamentally transformed and being powerless to stop it, as in the past 7+ years.
A whole lot of malaise going on these days.
Caught them in a lie right out of the box.
“fasting, prayer and good deeds, “
Blowing things up, slicing throats, burning cars and buildings, and raping.
It doesn’t sound as if Jean-Louis has ever met a Person named Christ Jesus. The Cardinal was even able to talk about the pardoning of sins without mentioning the One who made atonement for us all.
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