ROME, Feb 8, 2008 / 06:18 am (CNA) – The first meetings were held earlier this week at the Vatican to prepare for the visit of representatives of the 138 Muslim scholars who have offered to conduct interreligious dialogue, Italian journalist and church expert Sandro Magister reports. In October of 2007, 138 Muslim scholars addressed a letter that titled “A …

They are the representatives of the “letter of the 138″ written to Benedict XVI last October. Here’s who they are, and from where they come. One of them, Yahya Pallavicini, tells in a book about how to live as Muslims in a Christian country, in peace between the two religions ROMA, February 6, 2008 – Within one month, on March …

There is death and darkness in Gaza.  There have been petitions to end the siege.  A coalition of Israeli activists organized a relief convoy.  However, the convoy was not allowed through to give the emergency supplies to the Palestinians in Gaza.  Some interfaith leaders have called for intervention to end the siege.  But, what is actually happening is ethnic cleansing.  …

For 23 years, John Foley was the Vatican’s highest communication official. His department oversaw all film, television and photographic work at the Vatican, and prepared official policy statements.  In November, Pope Benedict XVI gave him a red hat, elevating him to the College of Cardinals, and naming him Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem …

The contrast is not only one of faith. It also concerns the achievements of the Enlightenment: from religious freedom to equality between men and women. ROMA, (Chiesa) – For the Vatican, the new year brings a meeting that cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the pontifical council for interreligious dialogue, has pre-announced as “historic,” in an interview with “L’Osservatore Romano” on …

Is shared monotheism the best starting place for Muslim-Christian dialogue? The recent exchange of conciliatory letters by Muslim and Christian leaders continues to generate discussion. On the surface, the aim of the letters—both calls for Muslims and Christians to work together for world peace—seems fairly benign. The title of the Muslim letter, signed by 138 scholars and clerics broadly representative …

http://acommonword.blogspot.com Reflections upon ‘Loving God and Neighbor Together’ The Yale Response to A Common Word Between Us and You. The author may be contacted at [email protected] A group of four scholars have offered a response to the Letter from 138 Muslim scholars, entitled A Common Word Between Us and You. This response, entitled ‘Loving God and Neighbor Together’ has been …

In the Fall of 2007 a diverse group of 138 Muslim leaders and scholars signed a statement entitled, “A Common Word Between Us and You” and distributed it to 27 Christian leaders and to “leaders of Christian churches everywhere”. The purpose of the statement was to promote world peace through embracing two theological commitments made by Muslims and Christians. “love …

While the diplomatic maneuvering between the Holy See and Muslim leaders has taken several striking turns in recent weeks, the Vatican’s strategic purpose in this conversation has been clear since Pope Benedict XVI’s 2006 Christmas address to the Roman Curia. There, while reflecting on his September 2006 Regensburg Lecture and his December 2006 visit to Turkey, the pope suggested that …

Islam and Christianity: changing the subject; The Public Square: A Continuing Survey of Religion, Culture, and Public Life; Pope Benedictand Muslims SECTION: Pg. 60(2) No. 180 ISSN: 1047-5141 After Pope Benedict’s historic address on faith and reason at Regensburg University on September 12, 2006, a group of thirty-eight prominent Muslims from diverse schools of thought wrote him a letter in …

(Below is a response to “A Common Word”, issued to Christians by 138 leading Muslim clerics. If you are Christian, you are welcome to click here (email to [email protected]) to add your name to this response and receive updates. Please indicate your town, state/province, country and allow 48-72 hours for your name to appear below. If you are with a …

When Christians enter into conversation with Muslims, their conversation should be clearly and distinctly Christian, R. Albert Mohler Jr. said Jan. 8 on his national radio program.  Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was responding to a full-page letter endorsed by nearly 300 Christian leaders that appeared in a December issue of the New York Times. The letter, …

On a frigid morning last week about 100 people — Christians and Muslims — gathered at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church in Ladue to talk about a letter. Signed by 138 Muslim leaders from a wide spectrum of major Islamic traditions around the world and titled, “A Common Word Between Us and You,” the letter was sent to more than two …

The Vatican and Islam How to talk to Muslims (and others); Catholics seem unsure WHEN 138 Muslim scholars sent an open request to leaders of the Christian world, from Catholics to Methodists, for a theological dialogue, they knew they were setting a cat among the pigeons. It was a fair bet that senior Christians would soon be looking over each …

THE BISHOP of Kingston, the Rt Rev Richard Cheetham, has said he is looking forward to the ‘tremendous opportunity and privilege’ he has in becoming the new vice chair of the Christian-Muslim forum. Bishop Cheetham takes on the role in the organisation from the former Bishop of Bolton, the Rt Rev David Gillett, who retired earlier this month as the …

Ali Aiyub, a Muslim, is the director of the Silsilah Dialogue Institute. He considers the Open Letter a milestone in the history of Islam in the modern world, comparable to the Second Vatican Council, since it pushes Muslims towards dialogue in today’s chaotic world. Zamboanga (AsiaNews) – The Open Letter 138 Muslim intellectuals wrote to the Pope and other Christian …

A letter written by 138 Muslim intellectuals to Pope Benedict XVI is also indirectly addressed to fellow Muslims, says Ali Ayub The Open Letter 138 Muslim intellectuals wrote to the Pope and other Christian leaders is indirectly addressed to Muslims because it calls on “Muslims to rethink and to re-educate ourselves about our own Islamic,” said Ali Aiyub in a …

Teenagers are to meet at Aston Parish Church Centre in Birmingham for a Christian-Muslim debate with a difference. Young Christians from Kenilworth and Muslims from Aston will produce a musical response to the Common Word’ statement sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Pope and other world Christian leaders. The Christian Muslim Forum’s Andrew Smith is bringing this group together, …

Read an exclusive extract from the online journal On the eve of the election of a new so-called “Black Pope”, Jesuits in London have warned against the demonisation of Muslims. In an online journal launched this evening by the British arm of the Society of Jesus, a leading Jesuit scholar says: “Let us not be misled into thinking either that …

A prominent theologian expressed concerns this week about the recent Christian response to a historic Muslim letter in which signers appeared unclear about their Christian identity and different beliefs of God. The letter, titled “Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to a Common Word Between Us and You,” failed to clearly define the Christian understanding of God as …

In October of 2007 I wrote an article about what I believe to be the most important news story of the past year – Muslim Scholars Appeal to Christian Scholars for Dialogue and Peace on Eve of Eid.  There have been a number of developments since then requiring an update to this story. A brief history of A Common Word …

NEW ORLEANS (BP)–Citing his belief in dialogue with Muslims, a professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has set forth his rationale for joining some 300 evangelicals in signing a letter seeking to nurture such dialogue. Mike Edens, NOBTS professor of theology and Islamic studies and associate dean of graduate studies, acknowledged criticisms that some evangelicals have raised over the …

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–When Christians enter into conversation with Muslims, their conversation should be clearly and distinctly Christian, R. Albert Mohler Jr. said on his national radio program Jan. 8. Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., was responding to a full-page letter endorsed by nearly 300 Christian leaders that appeared in The New York Times in December. …

CNA STAFF, Jan 10, 2008 / 09:35 pm (CNA) – The internal struggle within Islam over how it interacts with the modern world has spilled out onto the world stage over the last few years with sometimes disastrous consequences. In the midst of this upheaval, George Weigel is offering his thoughts on the roots of this “intra-Islamic civil war” as …

In an effort to find common ground between Christians and Muslims, Vatican and Muslim representatives will discuss possible collaboration. If limited to theology, the dialogue could be hollow if it does not address concrete problems of the two faiths. The masterful lecture by the pope in Regensburg, so widely criticised by much of the Muslim (and also Western) world, is …

Quest for understanding, commonality Top-tier religious leaders in the Muslim world are emerging as major proponents of dialogue with Christians and other world faiths. With two distinct initiatives this month, they are breaking new ground and sending signals to Muslims and others globally that interreligious understanding and joint action are Islamic values. Those involved see the initiatives, if sustained, as …

Reflections on Muslim and Christian Spirituality in the Southland As a Christian, I receive many cards at this time of the year wishing me “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year.” But one piece of correspondence stood out from all the rest. Unlike the usual Christmas newsletter that describes wonderful events and personal accomplishments of the past year, this letter thanked …

1. After three months, what’s your impression about the letter of the 138? The worldwide response to the Common Word has been tremendous. The document was sensitively written and was the result of a sincere effort by Muslim clergy, theologians and leaders to open a path of dialogue and cooperation with Christian communities worldwide. There is no doubt in my …

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Benedict XVI never gives the impression of being overburdened, yet a look back at 2007 reveals a long list of papal activities and achievements. The pope’s output included four major documents and a lengthy book, more than 200 speeches and sermons, two foreign trips and three in Italy, the creation of new cardinals, and encounters …

The Vatican announced it will hold a “historic” meeting with Muslim leaders this spring in response to an unprecedented letter signed by over a hundred Muslim clerics, scholars, and intellectuals calling for understanding based on their common ground of belief in one God. Pope Benedict XVI proposed the meeting which will begin with three Muslim representatives coming to Rome in …

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Catholic and Muslim representatives plan to meet in Rome in the spring to start a “historic” dialogue between the faiths after relations were soured by Pope Benedict XVI’s 2006 comments about Islam and holy war, Vatican officials said. Benedict proposed the encounter as part of his official response to an open letter sent to him and …

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – A landmark meeting between Catholic officials and Muslim scholars that aims to spur dialogue between Christianity and Islam is planned to take place in Rome this spring, a senior Vatican official said. The top Vatican official in charge of relations with Islam, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, said he expected an advanced group of three Muslim representatives in …

Pope Benedict has taken a bold step toward greater understanding in this world by deciding to hold a meeting for Roman Catholic and Muslim leaders this year. The Vatican announced on the weekend the conference will be held in Rome in the spring. It is a response to an open letter that 138 Muslim scholars from around the world sent …

Vatican City (AHN) – Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to meet with Muslim leaders in Rome for a “historic” meeting between the two opposing faiths, in an effort to find a means of co-existence, and discover a “common ground” between the religions. The meeting was considered as the Vatican’s response to an open letter sent in October by 138 Islamic …

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Catholic and Muslim representatives plan to meet in Rome in the spring to start a “historic” dialogue between the faiths after relations were soured by Pope Benedict XVI’s 2006 comments about Islam and holy war, Vatican officials said. Benedict proposed the encounter as part of his official response to an open letter sent to him and …

In a letter addressed to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian leaders 138 prominent Muslim scholars from every sect of Islam urged them “to come together with us on the common essentials of our two religions”, spelling out the similarities between passages of the Bible and the Qur’an. “If Muslims and Christians are not at peace, the world cannot be …

Catholic Online (www.catholic.org) Muslim scholars and leaders stated in their letter to the Holy See: “As Muslims and in obedience to the Holy Quran, we ask Christians to come together with us on the common essentials of our two religions… Let this common ground be the basis of all future interfaith dialogue between us.” Pope Benedict XVI deliuvers his blessing …

Catholic, Muslim officials plan ‘historic’ meeting VATICAN CITY — Catholic and Muslim representatives plan to meet in Rome in the spring to start a “historic” dialogue between the faiths after relations were soured by Pope Benedict XVI’s 2006 comments about Islam and holy war, Vatican officials said. Benedict proposed the encounter as part of his official response to an open …

A very small, yet hopeful sign: Amman, Dec. 28, 2007 (CWNews.com) – The leader of an Islamic group calling for inter-religious dialogue has responded positively to a papal invitation for talks with the Holy See, Vatican Radio reports. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, the president of the Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan, has indicated that he …

Pope Benedict XVI, left, accompanied by Muslim clerics, security officers and others, visits Blue Mosque in Istanbul (File Photo) A top Vatican official says a high-level delegation of Muslim clerics and scholars will travel to Rome in coming months to open a Christian-Muslim dialogue. Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, confirmed the plans in an Italian Catholic weekly news …

The contrast is not only one of faith. It also concerns the achievements of the Enlightenment : from religious freedom to equality between men and women. The Catholic Church has made these its own, but Islam has not. Will they be able to discuss this, when Benedict XVI and the Muslims of the letter of the 138 meet together ? ROMA, January …

Rome, Jan. 2, 2008 (CWNews.com) – The president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue has confirmed plans for a meeting between Vatican officials and Islamic leaders. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran told the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano that a meeting with representatives of the “Common Word” initiative, launched in October 2007 by a group of 138 Islamic leaders, will take place …

12:00 AM CST on Saturday, December 29, 2007 From Wire Reports 2007may be recorded as a pivotal year for religion and politics – a year that was relatively quiet, unremarkable at first glance, but nonetheless a significant harbinger. “There are a lot of discrete things, but if you put them all together, you get the sense that change is in …

ROME (UCAN): Muslim scholars have followed up their groundbreaking letter to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian leaders with Christmas greetings to Christians around the globe. “Peace be upon you,” begins the message, in which the scholars present a passage in the Qur’an that cites Jesus and attributes a quotation to him. Earlier, in October, 154 Muslim scholars — 138 …

The Plain Dealer: A group of prominent Muslim scholars and clerics has accepted the invitation of Pope Benedict XVI for a “working meeting” on inter-religious dialogue at the Vatican. The Catholic News Service reported that Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal of Jordan wrote to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, on Dec. 12 to accept the pope’s …

ROME (UCAN) — The Vatican on Nov. 29 released its much-awaited response to the letter of 138 Muslim scholars concerning the need for Christians and Muslims to come to a “common word” on essential matters of faith. The Muslims’ letter of Oct. 13 stressed the centrality of the twin duties of love of God and love of neighbor as being …

A group of prominent Muslim scholars and clerics has accepted the invitation of Pope Benedict XVI for a “working meeting” on inter-religious dialogue at the Vatican. According to Catholic News Service, Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal of Jordan wrote to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, on Dec. 12 to accept the pope’s invitation. Representatives of Muslim …

VATICAN CITY (CNS): The Vatican official in charge of interreligious dialogue said he is confident a new level of dialogue with Muslims will take place in 2008. “There is good will on both sides,” said Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. After 138 Muslim scholars sent a letter to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian …

The religious leaders http://timesonline.typepad.com/faith/2007/12/the-presidents.html “You know that identities are destroyed. As an Anglican, this is what I wear to identify myself that I am a clergyman. Do you know what Mugabe has done? He has taken people’s identity and literally – if you don’t mind – cut it to pieces.” Archbishop John Sentamu while cutting up his Dog collar on …

Rome – A group of 138 prominent Islamic religious leaders who are championing improved relations between Muslims and Christians have accepted an invitation by Pope Benedict XIV for a meeting and have suggested dates to prepare for such talks. ‘In a letter to (Vatican Secretary of State) Cardinal Tarciso Bertone, we suggested a meeting could be held in February or …

Amman, Dec. 28, 2007 (CWNews.com) – The leader of an Islamic group calling for inter-religious dialogue has responded positively to a papal invitation for talks with the Holy See, Vatican Radio reports. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, the president of the Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan, has indicated that he would like to meet with Pope …

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican official in charge of interreligious dialogue said he is confident a new level of dialogue with Muslims will take place in 2008. “There is good will on both sides,” said Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. After 138 Muslim scholars sent a letter to Pope Benedict XVI and other …

Amman, Dec. 27, 2007 (CWNews.com) – A group of Islamic leaders has issued Christmas greetings to the world’s Christians, following up on an October call for greater dialogue between the two faiths. The Islamic statement, signed by 129 prominent Muslims from all around the world, thanks the many Christians who have responded to the October call– entitled “A Common Word”– …

Year in review Though clouds gather, we must search for silver linings. They are always present and apparent to the optimist and the wisdom-seeker, as surely as springtime buds emerging from winter’s cold bareness. By Mas’ood Cajee, December 26, 2007 For the past six years, I have compiled a list of positive news stories related to Muslim issues from around …

Leading Muslim scholars have addressed warm Christmas greetings to Christians around the world, a message notable both for what it said and the fact that it was sent at all. The greetings, sent by a group of 138 Sunni, Shiite, Sufi and other scholars who recently proposed a dialogue with Christian leaders, called for peace on earth and thanked church …

A Muslim Message of Thanks and of Christmas Greetings, December 2007 In the Name of the God, the Compassionate, the Merciful May God bless Muhammad and his kin just as He has blessed Abraham and his kin Al-Salaamu Aleikum; Peace be upon you; Pax Vobiscum Peace be upon Jesus Christ who says: Peace is upon me the day I was …

In a time when extremism has taken on many forms and colours, it is important that inter-faith dialogue is established, maintained and supported. A two-way communication would not only build bridges, but would also assist in keeping extremism at bay. A group of Muslim scholars recently sent Christmas greetings to Christians around the world. The message called for peace on …

PARIS: Leading Muslim scholars have addressed warm Christmas greetings to Christians around the world, a message notable both for what it said and the fact that it was sent at all. The greetings, sent by a group of 138 Sunni, Shiite, Sufi and other scholars who recently proposed a dialogue with Christian leaders, called for peace on earth and thanked …

Christmas, marking the birth of Jesus, is the greatest religious festival of the Christian Community. Like elsewhere around the world, the Christian community of Bangladesh is celebrating the event in a befitting manner today. Christianity is one of the religions that have followers all over the globe. And like other world religions, it has a great social significance and world …

A group of leading Muslim scholars has sent holiday greetings to Christians worldwide. In wishing a joyful and peaceful Christmas, the group also gave thanks for what it calls the “beautiful and gracious” response to its call for more openness between the faiths. The group said it hopes the coming year will be one of forgiveness and where the dignity …

Only two cheers for Muslim letter from Bishop of Rochester Times Online and CEN October 24, 2007 The Bishop of Rochester makes the case for a more reserved reception to the Muslim Letter of Peace in this week’s Church of England Newspaper Lingering questions about the Muslim letter: Bishop Nazir Ali Peace between Christians and Muslims is presented as conditional: …

In a nice gesture indicating the tolerant nature of Islam, Muslim scholars addressed Christmas greetings to Christians around the world. In a nice gesture indicating the tolerant nature of Islam, top Muslim scholars addressed warm Christmas greetings to Christians around the world. The greetings, which called for peace on earth, were sent by a group of 138 Sunni, Shia, Sufi …

How could Al Gore, Jamie Lynn Spears and Pope Benedict XVI be connected to each other, world peace and climate change? If climate change leads to melting glaciers, dry rivers, desertification, nuclear world war III fighting over arable land and water, and then a new ice age of world wide nuclear winter, will that solve the global warming problem? Nuclear …

Muslim-Christian dialogue offers hope For many people, Christmas and peace seem to be fused as one theme. But when the holiday season is over, will the world be any closer to, if not peace itself, at least a reduction in violence and warfare?/strong> I take great heart this festive season in two developments that are lifting up international civilized discourse …

Christmas greetings of peace on Earth and good will to all — what could be more common during this holiday season? It’s heard so much that it’s practically a cliché. But this familiar tune takes on a new tone when the greetings come from leading Muslim scholars, clerics and intellectuals. The same group of 138 Muslims that invited Christians to …

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — An international group of Muslim scholars has accepted an invitation from Pope Benedict XVI for a major dialogue session at the Vatican. Meanwhile, the group has issued a message of Christmas greeting to “our Christian neighbors all over the world.” A letter from Jordan’s Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, architect of the Muslim scholars’ project, …

PARIS (Reuters) – Leading Muslim scholars have addressed warm Christmas greetings to Christians around the world, a message notable both for what it said and the fact that it was sent at all. The greetings, sent by a group of 138 Sunni, Shi’ite, Sufi and other scholars who recently proposed a dialogue with Christian leaders, called for peace on earth …

On October 13, 138 Muslim scholars and leaders sent a letter to the world’s most influential Christian leaders, calling on them to join in making peace and harmony. With Christians and Muslims constituting about 55 per cent of humanity, the very survival of the world depends on it and “our very eternal souls” are at stake if we fail to …

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently condemned Michael Savage (whose legal name is Michael Weiner), a popular American radio host who reaches an estimated eight million listeners each week over nearly 400 stations, for incendiary remarks.  According to press reports, Savage lashed out (no pun intended) about Islam on one of his recent shows, commenting that the Quran is …

A powerful mainstream movement launched by 138 Muslim scholars and religious leaders will issue a unique Christmas message to the Christian world warning against those Islamic extremists who “relish conflict and destruction”. The group seeks to strengthen what it sees as mainstream Islam against extremist groups. “The very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake,” the group cautioned. …

Vatican City – Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 has done much to promote interfaith dialogue, especially with Muslim nations, while the struggle between right-wingers and liberals in the Catholic Church goes on and reformed Christians remain snubbed. nAfter being elected pope in 2005, Benedict stressed he wanted open dialogue both within his own Church and with other faiths and cultures. …

Where is the moderate Muslim voice? Political commentators have repeatedly asked this question in the cacophony of the “war on terror” and amid daily news reports of violent acts of Islamic extremism. Yet when a moderate voice is raised, we stand a very good chance of missing it. On October 13, 2007, a group of 138 Muslim scholars, religious leaders, …

More than 130 Muslim scholars and religious leaders will issue a Christmas message of thanks and greetings to the Christian world this weekend as part of a growing movement to strengthen mainstream Islam against violent extremism and to promote inter-faith dialogue. The message, hailed as unique and historic by theologians on both sides, follows a letter by the same group …

Vatican City, Dec 21, 2007 / 09:58 am (CNA) – Every year the Pope holds a “Christmas party” of sorts with the various offices that help him run the Catholic Church around the world. This year, Pope Benedict took the opportunity to share his reflections on important events from the past year including how encountering Jesus and sharing His Gospel …

Throughout the Advent season we Christians ponder the mystery of God’s great love for us which became so evident nearly two thousand years ago through the Incarnation of His Son, Jesus Christ. Every Christmas gift we purchase is hopefully a message of love, first shared by God in the gift of His Son which we now extend to precious others. …

The date of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth is unknown. The year was probably 4 B.C. December 25 was likely chosen to ‘baptise’ the pagan Yule or ‘Rebirth of the Sun’ festival. So what? The significance of the event, not its traditional date, is (to repeat an overworked phrase) the reason for the season. As Muslim immigrants bring a …

ROME — Pope Benedict XVI on Friday called for “tolerance and mutual respect” among religions while stressing that the Roman Catholic Church should push forward in its battle to win souls. “Is it still permissible to evangelize today? Shouldn’t religions and conceptions of the world instead cohabit peacefully and seek to work together for what is best for humanity?” the …

In his address to the Roman Curia, Benedict XVI speaks of his Letter to the Chinese, affirming that he reiterated the principals of Catholic ecclesiology and openness towards the Government, as well as the letter written by the 138 Muslim religious leaders, the beginning of a common dialogue in defence of human dignity. Other themes touched on include the defence …

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a year-end meeting with the Roman Curia, Pope Benedict XVI looked back on 2007 and identified a crucial theme: the need to evangelize. Rather than simply hitting the highlights of his ministry over the previous 12 months, the pope answered objections from those who see the church’s missionary task as too marginal to today’s problems …

Vatican, Dec. 21, 2007 (CWNews.com) – Pope Benedict XVI (bio – news) emphasized the duty of all Christians to evangelize in his Christmas message to the Roman Curia. “The disciple of Christ must also be a ‘missionary,’ a messenger of the Gospel,” the Holy Father said during his December 21 meeting with leaders of the Curia. The Pope acknowledged that …

Meets With Cardinals and Curia for Christmas Greetings VATICAN CITY, DEC. 21, 2007 (Zenit.org) – 2007 was a year to remember God’s fidelity to his promise of remaining with us, Benedict XVI affirmed as he recalled with the Roman Curia some of the highlights of the past months. Today, the Pope held his traditional meeting with cardinals, bishops and members …

The crisis in the Sudanese province of Darfur is usually reported as if it were something new. In fact, the Arab Islamists who are committing genocide there have also been committing genocide in other regions of Sudan over decades, killing some two million Christians in the process. But marauding Arabs have preyed on East Africa for centuries, as the story …

Christians gathered from across Europe underscored “the importance of seeking common ground with Muslim partners in Europe” during a key meeting earlier this month. The December 6-9 meeting of the Committee for Relations with Muslims in Europe followed the letter from 138 Muslim clerics, scholars and intellectuals, “A Common Word Between Us and You”, which was sent to the Pope …

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican said recent criticism of Pope Benedict XVI by an al-Qaida leader reflected extremist fears of interreligious dialogue. Al-Qaida’s deputy leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, said in a videotape that the pope had offended Muslims and that Saudi Arabian King Abdullah Aziz should not have met with the pontiff in November. It was the first meeting between …

VIENNA, Va., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — This month, at the Second Round Table Discussion for the Religions for Peace and The Helsinki Process, Nour USA CEO Mr. A.H. Farouki called for the constitution of a Middle East Board of Trustees to provide input and support to the Religions for Peace Organization. Prior to the Second Discussion, the first collaboration between …

As I have traveled the world the last two years on behalf of America’s public diplomacy, I have often met people whose faith has inspired them to do great good. I’ve met Muslim American doctors who traveled to Pakistan to help victims of the earthquake there, Catholic nuns who helped families left homeless by mudslides in Central America, volunteers from …

Vatican City, 18 Dec. (AKI) – The Vatican does not consider ‘worrying’ the latest video message by Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda’s deputy leader. The video shows images of Pope Benedict XVI and his 6 November meeting with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah in Rome. “I ask how appropriate it was for him [Abdullah] to visit the pontiff, who has offended Islam and …

Vatican Aide Says Terrorists Worried by a Pontiff Who Dialogues VATICAN CITY, DEC. 18, 2007 (Zenit.org) – Al-Qaida is worried by Benedict XVI’s efforts to dialogue with Muslims, says a Vatican spokesman. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi affirmed this today when commenting on a one-hour 37-minute video from al-Qaida’s second-in-command, who criticized Benedict XVI’s Nov. 6 meeting with Saudi Arabian King Abdallah …

CAIRO — In a new Muslim gesture to promote inter-faith dialogue, 138 Muslim scholars have signed a Christmas message to the Christian clergy worldwide, including Pope Benedict XVI, reported the Financial Times on Saturday, December 22. “This is the first time a large group of Muslim scholars from across the schools greet their Christian neighbors,” said Prof. Aref Ali Nayed, …