Networking

Europe is tasked with a unique responsibility: it can become the workshop where Christians and Muslims show the rest of the world that “harmonious coexistence based on understanding and mutual respect is possible,” stated Cardinal Jean Pierre Ricard, archbishop of Bordeaux and vice-President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) explaining the purpose of the first European meeting of bishops and delegates from the Bishops Conferences responsible for relations with Muslims in Europe, promoted by CCEE. “It is a challenge, but we must show that it’s possible to live together in harmony. We must start by donating to the other the best of ourself, according to the tenets of the different religious traditions”, His Eminence said. “It’s not just a matter of establishing peaceful relations. Indeed, we must jointly witness the fact that peaceful relations between people are possible”. As relates to CCEE’s field of action – the archbishop declared – there are countries “like Albania, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina where Islam is the majority religion”. Thus the need was felt to call a meeting that would bring together Bishops’ Conferences’ dignitaries in charge of relations with Islam in order “to share experiences, approaches and questions regarding this reality”.A “grace for Christians”. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious dialogue, attended the meeting also. Muslim-Christian dialogue, His Eminence said, “is a grace for us Christians, since it compels us to deepen our faith. There can be no dialogue based on ambiguity. The ‘other’ must not be viewed as a competitor, but as a person who looks for God and the Absolute, since man “does not live on bread only”. The Cardinal told the delegates attending the meeting that the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious dialogue is in the process of examining a number of Pastoral guidelines for a dialogue ‘in veritate et charitate’ which His Eminence hopes “will be in circulation with the resumption of Pastoral activities, hence after the Summer break”. Delegates from 17 European countries attended the meeting, notably from countries where the presence of Muslim faithful has increased over the past few years like France, England, Germany, Austria, along with countries where Islam is the majority religion, like Turkey. According to findings presented by Cardinal Tauran, the percentage of Muslims in Europe is 3-4%, compared to the overall population. Family reunification policies activated in 1990s have encouraged Muslim migrants to remain in Europe. An integrating part of societies. “Until 30 years ago – said Fr. Hans Vöcking, CCEE Islam expert -, Churches viewed Muslims in Europe as the recipients of aid to immigrants’ policies. But today it is widely acknowledged that Muslims are an integrating part of European societies and their presence ought to be considered with a different approach that is pastoral, social, charitable and religious at the same time”. The reports submitted by the single churches present a complex and varied picture. Indeed, an ongoing exchange of experiences, problems and views marked the meeting in Bordeaux. In fact, an estimated 3.5 million Muslims live in Germany, 75% of whom come from Turkey. There are 2500 places of worship across the country, 180 large mosques with cupola and minarets. It is expected that they will soon amount to 300, while 5 million Muslims are estimated in France. “Islam becomes increasingly visible: with the erection of mosques, associations and businesses”, said Fr. Christophe Roucou. The intention is to pass from an Islam in France to a French Islam”. One million Muslims are estimated in Italy. “The Muslim presence in our country – said Father Gino Battaglia, who chairs the CEI department for ecumenism and dialogue – is marked by pluralism, fragmentation, compositeness and complexity”. Father Battaglia said upcoming challenges include the “ongoing wave of racism and xenophobia, directed also against the Muslim population”. This is why it’s important to “cultivate dialogue and encounter”, he said, “in order to counter an alarmist reading of the situation that has no true foundation”. The cry of Turkey. The situation in Turkey is completely different, as described by Father Mauro Pesce, Secretary General of Turkey’s Bishops’ Conference. Out of 75 million inhabitants, there are only 110 thousand Christians within a Muslim majority population. Father Pesce described the many difficulties experienced by Christians (from various Christian denominations) in practising their faith and thanked “the Holy Father and all those Christians who visited Turkey in the Pauline Year with initiatives and pilgrimages that have given greater visibility to the presence of Christians in Turkey”. The Catholic Church views positively Turkey’s EU adhesion, probably because to date it is regarded as the only path that will bring the Country to comply with EU legislation on human rights and minority groups”.