(29 Nov 07 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI has replied to the letter written by 138 Muslim scholars to Christian Leaders, inviting a group of them to meet with him here in the Vatican.

The letter is addressed to Jordanian Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, and signed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. In it the Pope expresses his deep appreciation for the positive spirit which inspired the text from Muslim scholars and its call for a common commitment to promoting peace in the world.
 While it is important not to ignore or down play the difference between Christians and Muslims, the Pope says “we can and therefore should look to what unites us, namely, belief in the one God, the provident Creator and universal Judge”.

Reiterating his words to representatives of Some Muslim Communities in Cologne, at the beginning of his pontificate, the pope stressed “we must not yield to the negative pressures in our midst, but must affirm the values of mutual respect, solidarity and peace. Adding there is plenty of scope for acting together in the service of fundamental moral values”.

“The common ground between the two faiths”, he says “allows us to base dialogue on respect for the dignity of every human person on the objective knowledge of the other’s religion, on the sharing of religious experience and, finally, on common commitment to promoting mutual respect and acceptance among the younger generation”.
 The letter concludes with an invitation to the Jordanian Prince and to a select group of the Muslim signatories for a papal audience to encourage such initiatives.

The Pope also proposes setting up meetings between the Muslim scholars and Vatican organisations such as the Pontifical council for Inter Religious Dialogue, the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies and the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Emer Mc Carthy reports: