"We believe that the concept of ‘tolerance’, widely used in connection with inter-religious dialogue, does not make much sense any more: we must move on from tolerance to mutual esteem, and, if the Lord will help us, to admiration": it was said this morning by card. Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyons, as he made a long speech on "A testimony on the relations between Christians and Muslims in Lyons", on the second day of the "World Apostolic Congress of the Mercy", which is going on in the basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome. Barbarin began by recalling that "mercy is one of the major issues in our dialogue with the other religions, especially Judaism and Islam". As to Jews, he said that "they know they have been chosen by God (..) to be the servants of His mercy among all nations". "With Muslims he added , it is easy to find that, out of their ninety-nine names for God, the most widely used are aptly ‘The Great Merciful’ and ‘The All Merciful’". Then he reflected on the experience of friendship that has grown over time with the president of the Regional Council of Muslim Cult, Azzedine Gaci. (continued)
