Vatican Invites Muslims to Fight Poverty Together

Monday, Sep. 14, 2009 Posted: 2:33:35PM HKT

The Vatican is calling upon Muslims to work together with Christians to end poverty; saying it can cause “violence and extremism” - the common enemy of humankind.

In its traditional message to Muslims at the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue Friday published its annual Message to Muslims blaming poverty as the main causes of “intolerable sufferings”.

“We all know that poverty has the power to humiliate and to engender intolerable sufferings; it is often a source of isolation, anger, even hatred and the desire for revenge.

“It can provoke hostile actions using any available means, even seeking to justify them on religious grounds, or seizing another man's wealth, together with his peace and security, in the name of an alleged 'divine justice', stated the message.

“This is why confronting the phenomena of extremism and violence necessarily implies tackling poverty through the promotion of integral human development that Pope Paul VI defined as the 'new name for peace’.”

The message was signed by the top interfaith dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran and Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, respectively president and secretary of the council.

“The poor question us, they challenge us, but above all they invite us to cooperate in a noble cause: overcoming poverty!,” they stated.

The Holy See has sought to mend relations with Muslims that were strained after Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 quoted a medieval text depicting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad as violent. Benedict apologized and said the text didn’t reflect his views.

The two leaders concluded the message by wishing a ‘Eid ul-Fitr!’ to Muslims, referring to the three-day holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, one of Islam’s five pillars.

The end of Ramadan this year will take place on the night of 19-20 September.

Gretta Curtis
CP Europe Correspondent