Vatican City, 13 November 2014 (VIS) – The third seminar of the Catholic-Muslim Forum was held in Rome from 11 to 13 November, on the theme “Working Together to Serve Others”. Three specific issues were considered: working together to serve young people, enhancing interreligious dialogue, and service to society. The Catholic delegation was headed by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, co-ordinator of the Muslim side, was unable to attend the event for health reasons. The assembled participants sent him a message expressing their good wishes. The Muslim delegation was therefore headed by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, professor of Islamic Studies at the George Washington University, Washington D.C., U.S.A. The delegates acknowledged many examples across the world of active Catholic-Muslim collaboration in educational, charitable, and relief efforts. After the presentations of the papers and the discussions, which ensued in a cordial and fraternal atmosphere, the participants agreed on the following points: 1. The delegates recognised that their gathering took place in a time of severe tension and conflict in the world, underlining the vital importance of enhanced service and mutual cooperation. In this context the delegates unanimously condemned acts of terrorism, oppression, violence against innocent persons, persecution, desecration of sacred places, and the destruction of cultural heritage. It is never acceptable to use religion to justify such acts or to conflate such acts with religion. 2. The education of young people, be it in the family, school, university, church or mosque, is of the utmost importance for the promotion of a well-rounded identity which builds respect for others. To this end, school curricula and textbooks should portray an objective and respectful image of the other. 3. The participants affirmed the importance of the culture of interreligious dialogue for deepening mutual understanding. This is required to overcome prejudice, distortions, suspicions, and inappropriate generalisations, all of which damage the peaceful relationships we all seek. 4. It was felt that dialogue should lead to action, particularly among young people. The participants encouraged Christians and Muslims to multiply opportunities for encounter and cooperation on joint projects for the common good. On Wednesday, 12 November, Pope Francis received the participants in audience, encouraging them to persevere on the path of Christian-Muslim dialogue, and he expressed his approval of their shared commitment to the selfless service of society. Finally, the delegates expressed their satisfaction at this fruitful encounter and their hopes for the next meeting of the Forum….
(Vatican Radio) The Kingdom of God is growing every day thanks to those who witness without making any “noise”, praying and living their faith in the family, at work, in communities, said Pope Francis at morning Mass, Thursday in Casa Santa Marta.
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In the silence of a home, where there may only be 50 cents left until the end of the month, but where there is always prayer, care for children and grandparents, there is the Kingdom of God. Far from the noise of the crowd, because the Kingdom of God “does not attract attention” in the same way a seed that grows underground does not attract [attention].
Pope Francis based his homily on the Gospel of the Day from St. Luke, where asked by the Pharisees ‘when the Kingdom of God would come’, Jesus replies: a day will come when they will say to you “there he is”, or ‘here he is’; do not go, do not follow them”. Pope Francis said : “The Kingdom of God is not a spectacle. The spectacle is often a caricature of the Kingdom of God “:
” A spectacle! The Lord never says that the Kingdom of God is a spectacle. It is a celebration! But that is different. Certainly it is a beautiful celebration. A great celebration. And Heaven will be a celebration, but not a spectacle. However, our human weakness prefers the spectacle”.
Pope Francis continued noting that celebrations are often transformed into spectacles – weddings for example – where people seem more intent on putting on a “fashion show, being seen, vanity” rather than receiving the Sacrament. Instead “the Kingdom of God is silent, it grows inside. The Holy Spirit nourishes it through our willingness, in our land, which we have to prepare”. Then, quoting the words of Jesus, the Pope said the day will come when the Kingdom will be manifest in all its power, but it will only be the end of time:
” The day when he will make noise, he will flash like lightening, lighting up the sky from one side to the other . So shall the Son of man be on his day, the day that he will make noise. And when one thinks of the perseverance of many Christians, who struggle to raise their family – men, women – who care for children, care for grandparents and arrive at the end of the month with only half a euro, but who pray. There is the Kingdom of God, hidden, in the holiness of daily life, every day holiness. Because the Kingdom of God is not far from us, it is near! This is one of its features: it is close to us everyday”.
Pope Francis continued that even when he describes his return in a display of glory and power, Jesus immediately adds that “first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation”. The Pope noted this means that “even suffering, the Cross, the cross of everyday life – the cross of work, family, to carry on doing good things – this small daily cross is part of the Kingdom of God”.
Pope Francis concluded by inviting all to ask the Lord for the grace “to nurture the kingdom of God that is within us” with “prayer, worship, service of charity, silently”:
” The Kingdom of God is humble, like the seed: humble but it becomes great by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is up to us to to let it grow in us, without boasting about it: let the Spirit come, change our soul and carry us forward in silence, in peace, in tranquility, in closeness to God, to others, in worship of God, without spectacle”.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Kingdom of God is growing every day thanks to those who witness without making any “noise”, praying and living their faith in the family, at work, in communities, said Pope Francis at morning Mass, Thursday in Casa Santa Marta. In the silence of a home, where there may only be 50 cents…
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Acceptance, temperance, patience,
meekness, trustworthiness, goodness of heart: this is “the alphabet, the basic
grammar, of every ministry” in the Church. But — Pope Francis recalled at the
General Audience on Wednesday, 12 November in St Peter’s Square — there is
“basic conduct” which must not be forgotten: the “awareness that everything is
a gift, everything is grace, also helps a Pastor not to fall into the
temptation of placing himself at the centre of attention and trusting only in
himself”. Ministers of the Church must humbly “listen to the people”. And he relaunched
his international appeal against the “absurd violence” being inflicted on
Christians. The following is a translation of the Holy Father’s address, which
he delivered in Italian. Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning, In
preceding catecheses on the Church, we pointed out how the Lord continues to shepherd his flock
through the ministry of bishops, assisted by priests and deacons. It is in them
that Jesus makes himself present, in the power of his Spirit, and continues to
serve the Church, nourishing within her faith, hope and the witness of love.
These ministers are thus a great gift of the Lord for every Christian community and for the whole
of the Church, as they are a living sign of the presence of his love. Today
we want to ask ourselves: what is asked of these ministers of the Church, in
order that they may live out their service in a genuine and fruitful way. 1. In the “Pastoral Letters”
sent to his disciples, Timothy and Titus, the Apostle Paul carefully pauses on
the figures of bishop, priest and deacon, — also on the figures of the
faithful, the elderly and young people. He pauses on a description of each state of a Christian in the Church,
delineating for the bishops, priests and deacons what they are called to and
what prerogatives must be acknowledged in those chosen and invested with these
ministries. Today it is emblematic that, along with the gifts inherent in the
faith and in spiritual life — which cannot be overlooked, for they are life
itself — some exquisitely human qualities are listed: acceptance, temperance,
patience, meekness, trustworthiness, goodness of heart. This is the alphabet,
the basic grammar, of every ministry! It must be the basic grammar of every
bishop, priest and deacon. Yes, for without this beautiful and genuine
predisposition, to meet, to know, to dialogue, to appreciate and to relate with
brothers in a respectful and sincere way — it is not possible to offer truly
joyous and credible service and testimony. 2.
There is then the basic conduct which Paul recommends to his disciples and, as
a result, to all those who are called to pastoral ministry, be they bishops,
priests, presbyters or deacons. The Apostle says that the gift which has been
received must be continually rekindled (cf. 1 Tm 4:14; 2 Tm 1:6). This means
that there must always be a profound awareness that one is not bishop, priest or deacon because he is more
intelligent, worthier or better than other men; he is such only pursuant to a
gift, a gift of love bestowed by God, through the power of his Spirit, for the
good of his people. This awareness is very important and constitutes a grace to
ask for every day! Indeed, a Pastor who is cognizant that his ministry springs
only from the heart of God can never assume an authoritarian attitude, as if everyone
were at his feet and the community were his property, his personal kingdom. 3.
The awareness that everything is a gift, everything is grace, also helps a
Pastor not to fall into the temptation of placing himself at the centre of
attention and trusting only in himself. They are the temptations of vanity,
pride, sufficiency, arrogance. There would be problems if a bishop, a priest or
a deacon thought he knew everything, that he always had the right answer for
everything and did not need anyone. On the contrary, awareness that he, as the
first recipient of the mercy and compassion of God, should lead a minister of
the Church to always be humble and sympathetic with respect to others. Also, in
the awareness of being called to bravely guard the faith entrusted (cf. 1 Tm
6:20), he shall listen to the people. He is in fact cognizant of always having
something to learn, even from those who may still be far from the faith and
from the Church. With his confreres, then, all this must lead to taking on a
new attitude marked by sharing, joint responsibility and communion. Dear
friends, we must always be grateful to the Lord, for in the person and in the
ministry of bishops, priests and deacons, he continues to guide and shape his
Church, making her grow along the path of holiness. At the same time, we must
continue to pray, that the Pastors of our communities can be living images of
the communion and of the love of God. Special
Greetings With
great trepidation I am following the tragic events of Christians who, in
various parts of the world, are being persecuted and killed because of their
religious beliefs. I feel the need to express my deep spiritual closeness to
the Christian communities severely affected by this absurd violence which shows no sign of
stopping, while I encourage the Pastors and all the faithful to remain strong
and steadfast in hope. Once again, I would like to make a heartfelt appeal to
local and international political leaders, as well as to all people of good
will, that a widespread mobilization of
conscience be taken up in support of persecuted Christians. They have the right
to recover safety and peace of mind in their countries, freely professing our
faith. And now for all Christians, persecuted for being Christians, I ask you
to pray the Our Father. I
greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s
Audience, including the various groups from England, Denmark, South Africa,
Indonesia, Japan and the United States of America. I thank the choirs for their
praise of God in song. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke joy and
peace in the Lord Jesus. God bless you all!…
Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme of Maiduguri Diocese has described the situation of Nigerians in the Boko Haram affected states of the Northeastern region as “a pathetic state of human degradation, with the government watching helplessly-on, in spite of their claiming to be on top of the situation.”
Bishop Doeme made this assertion during a recent interview with Aid to the Church in Need, an International Catholic agency which provides assistance to the suffering and persecuted church in more than 140 countries of the world, under the guidance of the Holy See.
The Bishop disclosed that the unchallenged take-over of many towns and villages in the northeast part of Nigeria has resulted in many thousands of Internally Displaced People (IDP’s), with some of them living in caves and in the forest. Some have sought refuge in houses of well-wishers and church buildings in areas that are still safe from attacks by the Boko Haram terrorists. Other people have fled to neighbouring Cameroun for safety. Bishop Doeme regretted that most of the people are facing difficult living conditions because of lack of food, shelter and medication. He noted that “people are dying every day and in most cases with no one to give them a decent burial – they are left to rot; their homes and properties looted,” adding that “people have become slaves and prisoners in their homeland.”
Bishop Doeme is saddened by the fact that life has become so cheap in the northeastern area that it can be wasted at any moment as the government was no longer capable of safeguarding the lives of its citizens. To stress his point, he made a startling analogy when he said, “We used to think that salt is the cheapest commodity on the market – life is cheaper now, especially in the northeastern part of Nigeria.”
Bishop Doeme strongly believes that the Boko Haram insurgency has religious undertones even if both Moslems and Christians have been affected by the group’s unrelenting campaign of terror. “We might shy away from it and we may be silent, unable to speak up – at least for now – against this push to Islamise the northeast and eventually all of Nigeria. But what we are witnessing in Adamawa state is a clear confirmation of the pursuit of this agenda.” The Bishop added:
According to the Bishop, government funds earmarked for victims of terrorism seldom reach the actual people on the ground. It is for this reason that the Catholic Church has been making efforts to offer as much assistance to the victims. He disclosed that his diocese has been involved in providing essential relief services for some of the victims of displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency. He says, the Diocese of Maiduguri has given some relief materials to over 1, 500 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and it has joined hands with Yola Diocese to assist those who have taken refuge there.” He continues, “In the spirit of ecumenism, we have even assisted refugees in Maiduguri whether they are Christians or Moslems.”
Bishop Doeme however noted that the capacity of the diocese to provide the needed charitable work has been stretched to the utmost and the diocese was unable to cope. He appealed for more external assistance to help alleviate the difficult situation of IDPs, “especially of children who are not in school, are prone to diseases and face an uncertain future”.
The people urgently need water, food, clothes, shelter and medical care, the Bishop says.
CNSNigeria
e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va
(from Vatican Radio)…