Christians and Muslims to promote dialogue, reject violence
The RIIFS delegation was led by its director, Ambassador Abu Nimah, and included scholars from Iran, Egypt, and Lebanon as well as experts from the World Islamic Science and Education University and from Jordan. The Vatican delegation was headed by PCID President Card Jean-Louis Tauran and included scholars from the Vatican, local Churches and the academic world.
The seminar also held a public session at the Founders Theater, El-Hassan Science City.
Participants agreed to the following:
1) The notion of civil society has been discussed and the participants underlined its character as a medium for an open exchange of experiences and visions aimed at pursuing the common good. The participants agreed on the importance of civil society for a sound and integral development of individuals and communities, recognizing the particular and indispensable contribution that civil society can provide as a valuable forum for dialogue in the context of the responsible exercise of freedom.
2) The participants stressed the importance of educating youth in the values of mutual respect and in the culture of dialogue, rejecting violence, so as to promote peaceful coexistence on the basis of full citizenship.
3) They highlighted the relevance of democracy and the rule of law in a State that respects ethnic, cultural and religious diversities and implements equality among citizens, on the basis of the respect of human dignity and the ensuing fundamental human rights, particularly freedom and justice.
4) Religions have a specific role to play in civil society, offering motivations for the citizens' contributions to the common good that are based on faith in God and which transcend political expediency and search for power.
5) The participants stressed the role that religions can play in strengthening social participation and cohesion, thereby giving their specific support to the building of a stable and prosperous State, based on the principle of subsidiarity.
It has been decided that the next Colloquium will be held in Rome within two years, preceded by a preparatory meeting where the theme and the modalities will be defined.
.png)
