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COMUNICATO DELL’ISLAMIC-CATHOLIC LIAISON COMMITTEE (CITTÀ DEL VATICANO, 3-4 LUGLIO 2001, 12-13 RABI’ AL-THANI 1422), 12.07.2001


COMUNICATO DELL’ISLAMIC-CATHOLIC LIAISON COMMITTEE (CITTÀ DEL VATICANO, 3-4 LUGLIO 2001, 12-13 RABI’ AL-THANI 1422)

With the help of Almighty God the Islamic-Catholic Liaison Committee held its seventh meeting in Rome 3-4 July 2001 equivalent to 12-13 Rabi' al-Thani 1422. The Catholic delegation was headed by His Eminence Cardinal Francis Arinze, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Vatican City, while the Islamic delegation was headed by His Excellency Senator Dr Kamel al-Sharif, Secretary General of the International Islamic Council for Da'wah and Relief. The topic addressed during the meeting was Religion and the Dialogue of Civilisations in an Era of Globalisation. Following their exchanges on this topic and other matters the Committee agreed upon the following:

l. to reaffirm that civilisations with their material and technological dimensions are a common human heritage; their positive elements should therefore be preserved and their benefits made available to all; they are to be developed and promoted in the interest of the security and well-being of the whole of human society.

2. to reaffirm that religious values should be the basic starting point from which to direct humanity in such a way as to preserve human dignity and promote peaceful coexistence among peoples and the protection of the environment.

3. to reaffirm the importance of dialogue among civilisations for mutual knowledge and common endeavour in peace and harmony in order to protect human societies from disasters, poverty, ignorance, moral degradation, the breaking up of the family, wars and the effect of arms of mass destruction, while refusing the thesis regarding the inevitable clash of civilisations and societal conflict.

4. to recognize the importance of globalisation and its benefits, while calling attention to its dangers which hinder the realisation of a commonly agreed just world order, the acceptance of just criteria for the achievement of the well-being of all, and respect for the religious and cultural values of human societies.

5. to work together to spread the culture of dialogue and to foster a spirit of responsibility towards society, to resist consumerism, to protect human dignity and human rights, to prevent aggression, oppression and injustice, to work to ensure the rights of refugees to return to their countries of origin and to refuse all forms of discrimination against people.

6. to condemn the violations of the sacred nature of holy places and places of worship occurring in certain parts of the world, and to work together to ensure respect and protection for holy places.

7. to communicate these principles through available channels and through the mass media, through educational and cultural institutes, etc.

Head of the Islamic delegation, Head of the Catholic delegation,

Kamel Al-Sharif Francis Card. Arinze

[01190-02.01] [Original text: English]