FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ ON THE 8th COLLOQUIUM BETWEEN THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AND THE CENTRE FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE OF THE ISLAMIC CULTURE AND RELATIONS ORGANISATION (ROME, 19th-21st NOVEMBER 2012) The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (P.C.I.D.) and the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue (C.I.D.), of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (I.C.R.O.), held their Eighth Colloquium in Rome from 19th–21st November 2012, under the joint presidency of His Eminence Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the P.C.I.D. and of His Excellency Dr. Mohammad Bagher Korramshad, President of the I.C.R.O.
The theme of the Colloquium was "Catholic and Muslim Cooperation in promoting justice in the contemporary world". This theme was developed in four sub-themes, from the point of view of Catholics and of Shi‘i Muslims: 1) The concept of justice; 2) Justice for the human person; 3) Justice for the different constituents of society; 4) Justice for the entire human family.
The other participants from the Catholic side were:
H.E. Archbishop Ramzi Garmou
H.E. Bishop Marcelo Sànchez Sorondo
Father Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot
Monsignor Khaled Akasheh
Monsignor Prof. François Bousquet
Father Dr. Damian Howard
Father Prof. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua
Prof. Vincenzo Buonomo
Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. Rotraud Wielandt
Prof. Paolo G. Carozza
Prof. Ilaria Morali
The other participants from the Muslim side were:
Dr. Mohammad Reza Dehshiri
Dr. Ali Mohammad Helmi
Prof. Hamidreza Ayatollahy
Hojatolislam Dr. Abdolhossein Khosropanah
Prof. Emad Afroogh
Hojatolislam Dr. Mostafa Boroujerdi
Dr. Seyedeh Mojgan Sakhaei
Mr. Gorban-Ali Pourmarjan
Mr. Siamak Borhani
Mr. Mohammad Hossein Mirzaaghaei
The Colloquium took place in a friendly atmosphere, and its work included the giving of papers and discussions about their contents. Both sides expressed their awareness of and concern for current challenges, including the economic crisis, the environmental issue, the weakening of the family as a basic institution of society and threats to world peace. The participants, recognising both areas of commonality and difference, focussed on common ground and shared values:
1. The belief we share in the One God who created all things gives each of us a holistic understanding of justice. The various spheres of its application are inter-related: personal, communitarian, social, political, economic, cultural and judicial.
2. Justice as a virtue based on human dignity requires the right exercise of reason and the illumination of God. Recognition of, and respect for, freedom of conscience, inter alia, are conditions of justice in our societies.
3. The dynamic nature of the concept of justice allows it to be adapted to meet the new challenges of the contemporary world.
4. The responsibility of religious leaders, institutions and, indeed, every believer to denounce injustice and oppression in all their forms and to promote justice all around the world. We believe that our religions possess resources which can inspire people to work to make justice and peace a reality.
5. The demand that, for the sake of the promotion of justice in today’s world, Muslims and Christians continue to deepen their understanding of one another through ongoing dialogue and cooperation.
6. The need to take the fruits of our meeting and communicate them to the people of our respective communities and societies so that they can have a real effect in the world.
The participants were pleased and honoured to be received at the end of the meeting by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, who greeted and encouraged them to continue on the path of an authentic and fruitful dialogue.
The next colloquium, preceded by a preparatory meeting, will take place in Tehran in two years.
Vatican, 21st November 2012
[01552-02.01] [Original text: English]
[B0674-XX.01]
