Pope to Muslim delegation: "first let us listen to each other"
"Between brothers, all of us need to talk, listen and speak slowly, peacefully, look along the way. And when you listen and talk, now we are on the road. "
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - First of all " first let us listen to each other " because "when we listen and speak to each other, we are already on the right road", Pope Francis said greeting a delegation of Muslim leaders from Britain, received before the general audience. The group accompanied by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and the president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, is in Rome for a meeting that addresses three challenges: integration, education, violence.
"With joy - Francis told them - I welcome you. I like to think that the most important work that we must do in our midst, in humanity, is the work of the ‘ear’: listen. Listen, no hurry to give the answer. To accept the word of our brother, our sister, and then think about sharing our word with them. But the ability to listen, this is so important. I 's interesting: when people have this ability to listen, they speak in a low tone, calm ... Instead, when theydo not, the speak in a loud voice and shout as well. Between brothers, all of us need to talk, listen and speak slowly, peacefully, look along the way. And when we listen and speak to each other, we are already on the right road. I thank you for this journey you are doing and ask God Almighty and Merciful bless you. And I ask you to pray for me. Thank you very much."