The Pope seems to be connecting with the Muslim world in a way that no other world leader has.
www.romereports.com/
Lebanon’s secret
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So what did the Pope have to say in Lebanon, the only country in the Middle East where Christians and Muslims live in relative harmony?
The kernel of his message was contained in an ambitious speech in the presidential palace to politicians and religious leaders.
His ideas challenged not only the fragile society of Lebanon, but also – perhaps even more so – the wealthier and more peaceful societies of the West.
Here are the main points.
(1) With its kaleidoscopic array of political parties, Muslim sects, and Christian denominations, Lebanon must be one of the most diverse societies on earth. But, said the Pope, unity is not the same as uniformity. Social cohesion is possible – but only if there is “unstinting respect for the dignity of each person”. Human dignity cannot be taken for granted. It requires “openness to transcendence” – a assumption which is often denied in the West.
(2) Religious freedom is the basis of all other freedoms. “The freedom to profess and practise one’s religion without danger to life and liberty must be possible to everyone. The loss or attenuation of this freedom deprives the person of his or her sacred right to a spiritually integrated life. What nowadays passes for tolerance does not eliminate cases of discrimination, and at times it even reinforces them.”
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