He fasted on Sunday, 24 September, first day of the month of Ramadan, to show his solidarity with Muslim faithful: the gesture, reported by the APIC press agency, is that of the bishop of Swiss origin, Paul Hinder, now Apostolic Vicar of Arabia, who accompanied it with a letter addressed “to my Moslem friends”. In his letter, the bishop, who is a Capuchin religious, writes “Christians want to build bridges of friendship and understanding with members of all religions and to participate in the promotion of the common good of the Moslem society in which they happen to live”. The bishop also asks Muslims for forgiveness for any injuries they may have been caused “by words or gestures on the part of Christians”. In the same way, “we forgive all those who have failed to show respect for our convictions and feelings as believers”. During the holy month of Ramadan Muslims are prohibited, in the hours between dawn and dusk, from eating, drinking, smoking and having sexual relations.
