Pope Francis on Friday joined prominent devout Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders in Bahrain in calling for the promotion of tolerance and devout freedom. that faith will never have to be used to justify violence and that devout leaders will have to counter the “childish” whims of heavy-handed warfare.
On his day in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Francis closed a convention on the East-West discussion sponsored by King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa. It was his moment such a convention in as many months, after Kazakhstan, evidence of the basis of Francis. Conviction that moments of encounter between other people of other religions can help today’s conflicts and promote a more just and sustainable world.
Sitting around him on the grounds of the Sakhir Royal Palace were Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa and prominent Islamic scholars, the non-secular leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians and American rabbis.
The pope told the august meeting that while the world is parting ways like two opposite seas, the mere presence of devout leaders in combination was evidence that “they intend to sail in the same waters, opting for the path of encounter rather than confrontation. “
“It is a striking paradox that, while the majority of the world’s population is united to face the same difficulties, suffering serious food, ecological and pandemic crises, as well as scandalous global injustice, a few potentates are engaged in a struggle resolved by partisan interests,” the pope said.
“It seems that we are witnessing a dramatic and childish scenario: on the lawn of humanity, to cultivate what surrounds us, we play with fire, missiles and bombs, cannons that bring pain and death, covering our not unusual house with ash and hatred. ” he added.
This is Francis’ momentary stopover in a Gulf country, following his story in the United Arab Emirates in 2019, where he signed a document promoting interfaith fraternity with a vital Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. .
In his speech, Al-Tayeb reiterated the importance of avoiding negativity and discord. “Let’s expel together all hate speech, provocation and excommunication and separate the old and fashionable conflicts throughout their bureaucracy and with all their negative ramifications,” he said. Said.
Al-Tayeb, who is one of the world’s leading Islamic scholars, took the opportunity to call for discussion between the two main streams of Islam: Sunni and Shia. His comments were aimed at selling harmony.
“I call on my brothers, Muslim scholars, the world of all doctrines, sects and schools of thought, to hold an Islamic dialogue,” Al-Tayeb added.
He noted that academics from Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders are in a position to hold an assembly “so that we can sit in combination at a circular table to separate our differences and our Islamic unity. “
Francis opened his to Bahrain on Thursday by emphasizing the country’s culture of devout tolerance. The country is home to several Christian communities as well as a small Jewish community.
In his comments at the forum, American Rabbi Marc Schneier, who has long worked to publicize Muslim Jews and is Al Khalifa’s special adviser on interreligious issues, praised Bahrain as a “model of coexistence and tolerance of other devoted communities.
The 85-year-old pope, who has been on a cane since tearing a knee ligament this year, used a wheelchair to attend the conference.
During the Nov. 3-6 trip, Francis will also take his discussion message to Bahrain’s Christian leaders with plans for an ecumenical assembly and prayer for peace at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, the largest Catholic church in the Gulf.
On Saturday, Francis will lead Mass at Bahrain’s National Stadium in front of a crowd of about 30,000 people, where on Wednesday staff put the finishing touches, adding a giant gold cross over Francis’ chair.
Some 2,000 places will be reserved for Catholics arriving from Saudi Arabia, Archbishop Paul Hinder, apostolic administrator of the North Arabian vicariate, told the media.
Francis will preside over a prayer assembly with Catholic clergy and others on Sunday back in Rome.
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