Dr. Cerić: Intercultural dialogue has no alternative

Pope Francis concluded his three-day visit to Turkey on Sunday, which he began after addressing the European Parliament and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, and shortly after visiting Albania and Jordan, reports the BH News Agency Patria.

Dr. Mustafa Cerić, long-time Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Community in BiH, states that the Pope's visit to countries with a Muslim majority is significant for several reasons.

- First, Pope Francis is returning to the tradition of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, who did not sit in Rome but travelled the world on a pastoral mission, but also with political messages. Like Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis visits Muslims, as well as Christians in Muslim countries. The fact that Muslims everywhere welcomed the Pope speaks of the openness of Muslim societies and the high awareness of tolerance and hospitality towards the other and the different in Muslim countries - believes Dr. Mustafa Cerić.

He adds that the Pope is a symbol of global Christianity, and his visit to every country, especially those with a Muslim majority, is "an indicator of the Christian position in the world".

- Pope Francis' visit to Jordan, Albania, and Turkey in a short period indicates that relations between Muslims and Christians, primarily Catholics, are not in crisis, and that the awareness of the necessity of interfaith dialogue is at a high level - states Dr. Cerić.

- The Pope's visit to Turkey, and the joint prayer in the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, is of special significance, considering the wars in Iraq and Syria. The public manifestation of Muslim-Christian dialogue in Istanbul at this moment is a sign of Turkey's moral strength, but also of the Vatican's moral responsibility to show that interfaith and intercultural dialogue has no alternative - a dialogue that has just begun there and which should last forever, as long as the world exists, with faith and hope that peace is possible in this world, because we know no better world - states Dr. Cerić.

 

"With his activities on the global stage, Pope Francis shows how important it is for Muslims to also have a global symbol in a person who will convey their global messages of peace and tolerance instead of self-proclaimed 'caliphs' and 'emirs', who damage the reputation of Muslims and spread fear of Islam. It is high time for Muslims to understand that the world values and accepts them as much as they themselves value and accept their moral responsibility in representing their faith and culture on a global level," emphasized Dr. Cerić.

 

He also welcomed Pope Francis' call in Istanbul for respect for human rights, the development of interfaith dialogue, and the protection of Christian minorities in the Middle East, especially in Turkey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Such clear and loud stances by Pope Francis give us the right to expect the same, we Muslims in the Balkans and Europe, that our human rights are also respected, and that we are supported in our efforts to develop interfaith and intercultural dialogue with all people of goodwill, for the sake of peace and security for all. Muslim Bosniaks in the Balkans and Europe are a people with recent experience of genocide and are therefore particularly interested in hearing the Pope's words, a promise that their right to life, faith, freedom, property, and honour will never again be called into question," believes Dr. Cerić.

 

He adds that Muslims in the Balkans and Europe also expect that the majority Christian countries of Europe will host their representative, who would appeal for better care of the rights of Muslims, and convey the peaceful message of Islam, all in order to strengthen interreligious and intercultural dialogue, for the good of all.