Pope Francis meets the members of the Muslim Council of Elders in Bahrain, stressing that “the God of peace never incites hatred and never approves of violence”.
(Vatican News Network)Pope Francis met with members of the Muslim Council of Elders at the Al Sakir Palace Mosque in Bahrain on the afternoon of November 4. On this occasion, the Pope reaffirms that God is the “source of peace” and invites everyone to be a “channel” of God’s peace.
In the afternoon, Pope Francis had a private meeting with the Grand Imam of Azhar Taib, then the two entered the mosque together to participate in the meeting. This Muslim Council of Elders, led by the Grand Imam of Azhar, promotes reconciliation within the Muslim community, avoids divisions and conflicts and overcomes extremism. The Pope praised him in front of a group of Muslim elders.
«The God of peace never leads men to war, never incites hatred, never in favor of violence. And those of us who believe in him are called, through the instruments of peace, such as encounter, patient negotiation and dialogue, to promote peace. “
The Pope stressed that “a future full of fraternity must precede a past full of hostility. We must overcome the prejudices and misunderstandings of history in the name of God, that is, in the name of the fountain of peace”.
In this mission, religious leaders are called to support believers of different religions and cultures. “Under the cloak of globalization, human beings are unable to breathe, are afraid and restless. In the face of increasingly wounded and fragmented human beings, the main religious beliefs should be like the heart to maintain the limbs of the body and like the soul to bring hope and hope to a higher hope. life “.
The Pope once again recalled the image of the “Tree of Life” and of the “marvelous plan of God for humanity”. Humanity, however, has distanced itself from the Creator and from the order he instituted, causing a “deluge of sin and death”. “The social and international, economic and personal scourges, as well as today’s tragic environmental crisis, are all the result of a situation of distance from God and neighbor”, the Pope said.
In this sense, prayer and fraternity can “help man to redesign this source of ancient wisdom, allowing believers to return to worship God” and to be close to others. “We must not allow ourselves to be tempted by other tools, the shortcuts of those who are not worthy of the Most High,” said the Pope. “Those who believe in the justification of force, who encourage violence, wars and arms markets, death bargain ‘, insult the Lord of Peace. name “. The growing arms trade” is turning our common home into a huge arsenal. “
The Pope then recalled the tragic situation of those migrants forced to flee the conflict, saying: “We must, with the wisdom of our fathers and elders, remember that God and our neighbor are above everything”. fraternity can save us.
Furthermore, religious leaders have a responsibility to be an example of what they preach. Everyone asks important questions about life, but many doze off and others are “silenced by traumas such as hunger and poverty.” Religious leaders, for negligence and other reasons, have not made an effort to preach God and peace.
Finally, the Pope invited all present to “support each other in this sense and continue to go forward hand in hand after this meeting”. “We will be blessed by the Most High and by the smallest of his beloved creatures.”
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