Andrea Tornielli

"This is not a matter of repeating what was done in 1985, but of celebrating an event, remembering a great truth that the Pope coined in an inspirational manner: “He who is on the journey to God, cannot but transmit peace.  He who builds peace, cannot but approach God."

This is what Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, writes about the meeting in Assisi convened by Pope Benedict XVI on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the first meeting wanted by John Paul II. Tauran published his thoughts on the magazine "Tracks", the monthly publication of the Communion and Liberation movement. 

Firstly, the cardinal highlighted the innovation of Assisi III, i.e. the presence of non-believers, which he defined as "people in search of God." "It's about offering - Tauran wrote - an opportunity to so-called “non-believers” to consult with believers, and in particular to demand from them a living testimony of life that is consistent with the religion they profess, and to believers the opportunity to share with non-believers that treasure that is their faith and, in doing so, to show the world that God is not a danger to society, as the Pope says."

The Cardinal summed up the so-called "spirit of Assisi" by pinpointing five attitudes.  The first involved being "willing to leave our homes and our temples, to listen to those who live and believe in something different than I do.  Secondly, to consider agnostics as "seekers of God" and help them in their quest for the absolute... Thirdly, one must not be shy when accounting for their faith. Always, however, as recommended by St. Peter, "with gentleness and respect"... The fourth attitude, is to be willing to accept the other peoples' differences without expecting them to follow us, but also without putting our faith in parentheses: there can be no dialogue if there is ambiguity.  Lastly, reject individualism and religious indifference, but rather see spiritual emulation in religious pluralism."

For Tauran, the meeting in Assisi will also represent an opportunity to "remember the need for religious freedom, which is not a right among others but the fundamental right."  Religious freedom, the French cardinal said, "far exceeds freedom of worship. It is the opportunity to participate in public dialogue as believers. Freedom of religion, therefore, is a force for peace."

"The Pope - the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue wrote - will certainly have the opportunity to repeat what John Paul II said: "If we want the world to finally become a house of peace, prayer is the force needed to beg and obtain it."  Not only does religious sentiment allow our inner life to grow, but it also gives us the true meaning of our presence in the world.  You can even say that the religious dimension urges believers to more ardently offer their contribution to building a harmonious society where peace reigns."

Tauran also insisted on the importance of calling men to their "duty to help organize a society where men and women are never deprived of a source of light and sensible proposals capable of enlightening and supporting them: in the face of trials faced by mankind, abortion, euthanasia, the trivialization of sexuality, the dictatorship of appearance, Christians must collaborate on everything that moves in the direction of humans and humanization."

Lastly, the French cardinal said:  "I think a message should be aimed at legislators and teachers come from Assisi: a person who seeks the truth before the enigma of his condition is to be respected.  Because young people can be taught to be critical which makes it possible for them to choose between true and false, to appreciate the great cultural traditions open to transcendence, which so well express our aspiration to truth and freedom."

© http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it october 26th 2011