“Difficult but necessary dialogue”

Europe before the phenomenon of a radicalization of the Islamic message that has a strong grip on the young, deeply shattered by the attacks in Paris and Copenhagen, from the thwarted attacks in Brussels. Always on the guard, under threat. Terrorism foments fears and sometimes also mistrust in religions. This is the European milieu addressed by the bishops and delegates of European Bishops’ Conferences for relations with the Muslims in Saint Maurice, Switzerland (May 13-15). The meeting, organized by CCEE, was attended by 35 representatives of European countries, from Malta to Great Britain, all of which have been engaged for years in promoting processes of dialogue with the Muslim brothers and sisters. This commitment is strongly questioned today in Europe, where the reverberating question is: is dialogue with Islam still possible? Maria Chiara Biagioni asked this question to cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for interreligious dialogue, who took part in the conference in Switzerland. Your Eminence, how do you answer? “I am always asked: you continue promoting dialogue. How can this be done before the tragic acts committed by ISIS? My answer is always the same: the more difficult it is the more there is a need for dialogue. There is no other option: either dialogue or war”. Why are young people attracted by Islamic fundamentalism? “I believe that Muslims are very proud of their religion while as Christians we need to recover a deep sense of faith in our life. I think that interreligious dialogue is an opportunity to deepen one’s faith, because after all one begins by professing what one believes in. There can be no dialogue if it based on ambiguity. I need to say to my Muslim interlocutor: I am Christian, I believe in Jesus and I live accordingly. And the next day that person will have to do the same. I consider interreligious dialogue a remedy against syncretism”. Are you saying that fundamentalist youths were attracted by Islamic extremism because Christians were unable to understand their quest for something meaningful? “I am. I remember two youths arguing in a train station in France. One was a Muslim, from the Maghreb. I recall he had fiery eyes, an extraordinary faith and dynamism. The other was French. When the Muslim asked him how a Christian could believe in a God that can bear a child and that this child is a man, the other was unable to reply. It obviously was a very brief episode, which however highlights the urgent need – highlighted by the great magisterium of Benedict XVI – to teach the content of faith, because faith is not an emotion and Jesus is not a legend. Jesus lived in a historical period and in a specific corner of the earth. And he spoke”. Which steps should Islam take to overcome the challenge of radicalisation? “Islam should enter the realm of modernity. I think there are young Imams in Europe who are aware of the need for this process. Schools and universities play a major role to provide everyone with the tools, otherwise we will continue being under the influence of these barbarians who don’t represent Islam and distort religion. Today some even think that religion is comparable to a war. This is a great humiliation for Muslims. We share their suffering because the vilification of one’s religion is terrible”. So the challenge of terrorism can be overcome also through culture? “Indeed, the great crisis of contemporary societies is a crisis in culture. We were unable to transmit the values and thus there are young people that are heirs without a heritage and builders without a plan. We have the duty to transmit to them the great artistic, literary, scientific heritage of humanity”. Terrorism has entered Europe. What would say to those who are afraid? “First of all not be surrender to fear because it is precisely what the terrorists want. We should be united and bear witness to the faith, at personal and community level, so that they may see that Christians and Muslims are consistent in their beliefs. Goodness is always contagious”. In conclusion, what are the challenges for European believers? “The identity challenge: we should be aware of the content of the faith. The challenge of otherness: the other person that is different from me is not necessarily an enemy or a competitor but a brother and a sister, who like myself is a pilgrim towards God. Finally, the challenge of pluralism means accepting that God is at work in every human being. After all, it’s a matter of accepting the fact that God is a much more powerful partner than us all”.