"Christians of Arab origin or Arab culture are special mediators in a confrontation with Islam. The Arab culture may become a path that Christians and Muslims can cover together at the service of society". This is the belief of mgr. Antoine Audo, bishop of Aleppo of the Chaldeians (Syria), who spoke today at the workshop on "Christians of the East", promoted by Comunità di S. Egidio. “By taking over this cultural wealth, Christians can become a fraternal alternative, a historical and a biblical memory for Muslim theology”, explained the bishop, who added: "Arab Christians can be a connecting link with Western modernity, which could otherwise be merely regarded as dangerous for a traditional society”. Arab Christians, said the prelate, "insofar as they manage to interact with the positive aspects of modernity religious freedom, separation between the State and the Church, inter-religious dialogue , will be special mediators in Islamic societies for the values of justice and peace". This connection might have a positive impact on inter-religious dialogue as well, which "must not be limited to polite pleasantries. Today’s Syria he concluded needs places in which Christians and Muslims may get to know and accept each other in their differences.”
