The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue every year sends a message to the Islamic community on the occasion of the month of Ramadan and 'Id al-Fitr, the feast that concludes it.
This year's message, which was prepared before the spread of the COVID 19 pandemic, reflects on the theme of respect to and protection of places of worship.
The message notes what the Document on “Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together”, signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, in Abu Dhabi, on 4 February 2019, said:
“The protection of places of worship – synagogues, churches and mosques – is a duty guaranteed by religions, human values, laws and international agreements. Every attempt to attack places of worship or threaten them by violent assaults, bombings or destruction, is a deviation from the teachings of religions as well as a clear violation of international law”.
In an explicative note, the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, wishes and pray that Christians and Muslims, united in a spirit of fraternity, demonstrate solidarity with the Coronavirus-affected humanity invoking the Almighty and Merciful God for the protection of every human being, most specially, for the healing of the afflicted and for the grace to all to overcome these difficult moments.
