Common responses

Some 200 leaders of over 40 countries representing various religions accepted the invitation of the Interfaith Council of Russia to take part in the world summit of the great religions that ended in Moscow in recent days. The delegations present at the summit included one of the Holy See, led by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, and also comprising Cardinals Paul Poupard and Roger Etchegaray. In the message he sent to Patriarch Alexei II and to the participants in the summit, BENEDICT XVI emphasized the meeting’s importance: it “indicates the common desire to promote dialogue between the civilizations” and seek “a more just and peaceful world order”. “The participation of religious leaders of various countries fills us with great hope. The UN is counting on you and is sure you will demonstrate the role that religion can play in the achievement of peace in the world”, declared the Secretary General of the UNO KOFI ANNAN in the written message sent to the summit. OVERCOMING THE PROBLEMS . “There are, apparently, some historical aspects that divide the two religions – pointed out Cardinal WALTER KASPER in his speech, focused on the importance of cooperation between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches -; however attempts to overcome these problems have not been lacking”. Faced by the common challenges of living in a secularised society and engaging in dialogue with other religions, “it is very important – he continued – that the two Churches should have joint reactions”. As regards the question of a possible visit of Benedict XVI to Russia, Cardinal Kasper said that the question was not on the agenda and had not been raised during the summit. According to Russia’s chief Rabbi, BEREL LAZAR , “today the supreme duty is that we ourselves should go towards people, at a time when the world is suffering from a lack of spirituality that is causing a growth of intolerance, xenophobia and terrorism”. “Terrorism – he continued – recruits militants by exploiting religion” and that’s why religious leaders should play a more active role in society, without limiting their own activities to their functions as heads of communities. They ought instead to fulfil their obligations as “spiritual leaders”. IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION . According to KIRILL, M etropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, and head of the External Relations Department of the Patriarchate of Moscow, “the relations between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches received a new and strong impulse from the positions assumed by Benedict XVI and by Alexei II. They are of the view that both Churches ought to do everything in their power to meet people’s genuine hopes”. In Kirill’s view, the bilateral contacts and the participation of the Vatican delegation in the summit have demonstrated that the two Churches are going forward in the right direction. “The most important thing is that we have a God who cares for us. Buddhists, Jews, Muslims and Christians: all of us – said Cardinal THEODORE MC CARRICK , former Archbishop of Washington, during the homily at the solemn eucharistic concelebration held in the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow on 5 July – believe that God exists and that He loves us. That means we have a great power and that we Catholics have a special blessing. We form part of the family of Jesus Christ who reunites us round the altar, and invites us to share the Eucharist”. “Religious feelings have different forms and ways of realization – pointed out Cardinal ROGER ETCHEGARAY -. However, the most difficult and most important thing is not just being religious, but being sincerely believers”. THE FINAL MESSAGE. “We must build a world order capable of combining democracy – as a way of coordinating the different interests and as participation of the people in the decision-making process at the national and international level – with respect for people’s moral persuasions, lifestyle, different legal and political systems, and national and religious traditions”, declares the “Message” approved at the end of the summit and addressed by the religious leaders to heads of state, religious communities and all people of good will. The document, moreover, condemns all forms of terrorism and extremism, any attempt to give them a religious justification, and expresses the need for insults on religious convictions and the profanation of sacred sites to cease. Commenting on the summit, Cardinal Mc Carrick told SIR that “perhaps the most important thing is the very fact that the meeting took place”, and the message that came out of it is “very good” because “it invites the participants in the imminent G8 [scheduled to be held in St. Petersburg from 15 to 17 July] to consider not only the problems of the economy and prosperity, but also those of people”. “Twenty years ago – concluded the cardinal – there was nothing to speak about. Twenty years ago this meeting would have been a dream. But it has happened”.