To live together

“In a difficult time of crisis and conflict, aggravated by the ever-widening phenomenon of globalisation, religions are called to accomplish their special bent for serving peace and cohabitation”. This is the appeal that Pope Benedict XVI made to the participants in the 12th Pro-Peace Meeting «Living together at a time of crisis. Family of peoples, family of God», which opened in Barcelona on October 3 (ongoing until Oct. 5) on the initiative of the Sant’Egidio Community and of the Archbishopric of Barcelona. The meeting is attended by 300 religious delegates on behalf of the world’s major spiritual traditions, and over 3000 people have registered for the different events held all over the city, all at the same time. The official opening of the meeting immediately highlighted the role of politics in settling conflicts and crises so as to pave the way to world coexistence, starting from the Old Continent. Overcoming the limits. There is “an unconceivable division in united Europe. But we have a duty to build a peaceful future and deliver a reunified country to the generations to come. A hospitable land for all its children: Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins”. This is the role of politics according to the president of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias. Cyprus is an island that has been divided for over 35 years. It incarnates a challenge for united Europe. According to Christofias politics must “Supersede the limits of reality”. “The ideal politician does not follow the impulses on the spur of the moment and does not fall into the traps of emotions. Superseding the limits illustrates the courage needed to disregard the selfishness of the few and the fears of the many”. It is a challenge that involves not only Cyprus but also the countries around the Mediterranean, “worlds with people of different national and religious cultures”. “Living together is difficult”, underlined the Cyrpriot president. “It is indeed true, that civilization does not seek an imaginary purity, but mixing, which is the result of interaction of different identities and history. “A world in which the diverse, the person next to us is oppressed and ignored, would be a barbarous world”, he added, highlighting “the revival of voices of intolerance, marginalization and racism we see all over Europe”. “Superseding the limits” is his message to politicians, who are called to address this challenge “with humility, with the objective to remodel the future and not to blindly accept it” for “coexistence and justice for all, not only for a group or, even worse, some elites”. But politics cannot do everything, he concluded, part of the responsibility weighs on the shoulders of “the leaders of world religions, who can join forces in an effort to eliminate mutual distrust and focus attention of to the noblest values, including the most important, the right to life. Religions and politics must join efforts in the common terrain of justice in favour of the poor”. Economy is not enough. During the meeting in Barcelona the President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic said it is important to analyze the ongoing crisis in order “to draw important lessons for the future. This crisis, the worse since 1929 – added Montenegro’s president – was not only caused by economic factors. It stems from ethical and cultural questions. Therefore mere economic measures are not enough. Rather, the world of the future must be erected on a well-grounded common system of values. No country can make it on its own. Dialogue is crucial”. For Vujanovic, “Democracy, the economic market and human rights, are universal values just like peace. Therefore the commitment of politicians and religious leaders is needed to create a better and more just world”.Cries of help. From Barcelona cries of help to Europe and to the international community were launched by countries undergoing armed conflicts such as Guinea, Algeria, Indonesia and the Ivory Coast. Rabiatou Diallo, president of Guinea’s national transition council, launched “an urgent appeal to the brothers and sisters in the North, that they may contribute to awaken consciences and bridge the poverty gap”. The experience of Sant’Egidio, in Guinea like in Mozambique or in the Ivory Coast, shows that “peace is not only negotiations but also coexistence, the construction of a compassionate society, commitments for the implementation of human rights, against capital punishment or to improve living conditions in prison”. Similarly, the president of the Islamic Council of the Ivory Coast Idriss Koudouss, called upon the international community to support his Country and urged Sant’Egidio to step up efforts in view of the forthcoming elections at the end of October, that could bring about a change in the reconciliation process.