Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
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Manama (Agenzia Fides) – “Mutual respect and coexistence are possible, even when the region is going through difficult times and inter-community tensions”, said the Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T., at the international congress ‘Finding Beauty in the Other: Inclusion and Humanitarian Service Among Believers’ just concluded at the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence in Manama, during which authorities from the institutional, academic, diplomatic and religious world discussed the theme of inclusion and dialogue in an era of conflict.
“On the occasion of the 825th anniversary of the Rule of the Catholic Order of the Holy Trinity, O.SS.T., my appointment as Apostolic Vicar in this part of the Gulf, which includes Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, based on our history and the important documents of the past and the present time, we thought of organizing this International Congress highlighting a practice and a dialogue that has crossed the centuries,” said Bishop Berardi.
Among the objectives of the congress, the speakers and participants presented the example of collaboration between Christians and Muslims that can help today in the search for sincere relationships between believers of different religions; as well as the proposal of a concrete commitment to dialogue and peace as well as cooperation between the congress itself and the various institutions that support dialogue and peaceful coexistence, such as the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence.
“This – continues the Apostolic Vicar – is not another conference on interreligious dialogue, but an exchange that connects knowledge of the past, re-reads history and seeks to point out values for greater inclusive and concrete collaboration. The Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives, founded in a time of conflict and misunderstanding between civilizations, wanted to respond with a peaceful and dialogical practice. Violence cannot be responded to forever with violence, which leads to more violence, destruction and death. There are other possible paths. New paths to discover or invent
But it is necessary to have a peaceful heart and a mind open to dialogue. We must discover the beauty of the other and in the other. Inclusion and humanitarian service are possible among believers who are rooted in a vibrant tradition and deep spirituality. ”
“The good relations maintained between the Apostolic Vicariate of North Arabia and the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence allowed the visit of Pope Francis to Bahrain but also mutual respect and excellent collaboration,” remarked Berardi.
“In the light of history and the current situation, our Congress therefore seeks to identify the values that unite us, to detect what leads to hatred and rejection of the other, to promote a discourse of peace and respect that builds bridges between cultures and religions. A fraternal model is needed and can help in the education of the new generation. Everyone will contribute to the construction of the edifice which is intended to be the home of all.”
Berardi insisted on making ideals and wishes concrete, moving from words to deeds, and proposing a project of common utility at the service of the good of the communities. “The Congress is the result of this collaboration and I would like to thank the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence for its support, logistics, professionalism and reflection.”
“Under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa El Khalifa, Bahrain has been and continues to be a witness to the possible dialogue between religions and philosophies. Through mutual respect for beliefs and mutual dialogue, we can build a more fraternal world where everyone can find their place in peace,” the Apostolic Vicar concluded.
Key points of the Congress concluded yesterday, October 22, 2024, and proposed by Bishop Berardi last January on the occasion of a meeting of the Board of the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence (see Fides, 31/1/2024), were the Declaration of the Kingdom of Bahrain, signed by King Hamad on July 3, 2017, as a global document for religious freedoms, and the hosting by the Kingdom of many international conferences and events, the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, in 2019, the visit of Pope Francis in November 2022.
As reported at the beginning, another highlight of the event was the celebration of the 825th anniversary of the birth of an Order of religious (1198 / 595H), non-military and completely unarmed, with the aim of freeing prisoners of holy wars: Christians from the hands of Muslims and Muslims from the hands
Christians. As a rule of life, these redeemers had to invest a third of their income for the work of redeeming prisoners, a third for assisting the poor and had to live on only a third of their income. Another characteristic that shows their being completely unarmed is the obligation to use only donkeys as mounts. As well as the celebration of the 825th anniversary of the letter of Pope Innocent III sent to Abū ‘Abd Allāh Muḥammad al-Nāṣir, Amīr al-Mu’minīn, head of the Almohads, since this initiative was communicated at a diplomatic level to the emir of the Almohads on March 8, 1199/595H (March 8, 2024/ 27 Sha’ban 1445). With this letter of high diplomacy, the Pope presents the Trinitarian redeemers inflamed with the love of God and their work of redemption and liberation defined as a "work of common utility".
(AP) (Agenzia Fides, 23/10/2024)
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