Then, Benedict XVI recalled that in the past "the relations between Christians and Muslims have not always been marked by respect and mutual understanding", due to wars and fights invoking "the name of God on both sides, as if fighting the enemy and killing the opponents could please Him". According to the Pope, "the memory […]

"Dear friends – continued the Pope as he addressed the delegates of the Muslim Communities – I am deeply convinced that we have to address, without giving in to the negative pressures of this sphere, the values of mutual respect, solidarity and peace. The life of any human being is sacred, for both Christians and […]

"Terrorism, whatever its origin, is a wicked and cruel choice, which tramples on the sacred right of life and undermines the very foundations of any civil coexistence". "Together, Christians and Muslims, we have to rise up to the many challenges that our time is throwing at us". This was said this afternoon by Benedict XVI, […]

"Believers from all religions are called to commit themselves, both at theoretical and practical level, in the interest of living together and mutual dialogue in relation to peace and against terror from wherever this may come": this was the statement given today by Rýdvan Çakir, President of the Turkish-Islamic Union of the Institute for Religion […]

” “Un programma speciale, questa sera, per le persone disabili che non potranno essere alla veglia con il Papa a Marienfeld. Alle ore 19, nella Halle 3 del Centro Congressi di Kölnmesse, è iniziato un momento di preghiera, guidato da sacerdoti in diverse lingue, prima di collegarsi in diretta, alle ore 20, con Marienfeld. Per […]

The Light of Peace of Bethlehem arrived punctually on the stage of Marienfeld at a quarter to five. The arrival of the Light was accompanied by notes from Moya Brennan (Irish), Yair Dalal (Israeli), Montserrat Marti (Spanish) and Giora Feidman. "The Light – explained the WYD Organisation Committee – recalls the story of the Three […]

Downtown Cologne is being emptied as the Marienfeld area gets filled with youth who are awaiting the Pope, but the Cathedral square is still full of people and improvised pilgrims, who are not registered with the WYD, but who are here because they know they will find an audience of young people. There are the […]

” “"I really hope the European politicians pay attention to what is happening these days in Cologne. Hundreds of thousands of young people met in a great international environment. The building of a united Europe also passes along this road": Monsignor André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, told Sir about his hopes after the WYD. "The […]

I timori della vigilia sembrano essere svaniti. Le previsioni del tempo, che segnavano pioggia, lasciano infatti, spazio, ad ampi squarci di cielo azzurro e a raggi di sole sopra la spianata di Marienfeld dove tra meno di due ore si aprirà la veglia di preghiera dei giovani con Benedetto XVI, penultimo appuntamento di questa XX […]

"Scopo delle religioni abramitiche è la coesistenza delle persone nella riconciliazione e nell’amicizia. Il ricordo delle inimicizie e delle guerre riempie oggi l’umanità intera di dolore. Per non rivivere più questa sofferenza, noi, appartenenti alle religioni abramitiche, in particolare cristiani e musulmani, dobbiamo adempiere obblighi importanti". Ridvan Cakir, presidente dell’Unione turco-islamica dell’Istituto per la religione, […]