Pope urges Catholics, Muslims to increase dialogue for peace

Published: 2003-12-02

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a speech to Iranian Muslim leaders and in a letter to international Catholic organizations, Pope John Paul II urged renewed efforts to increase respect among peoples to build peace. "Religion is, in fact, called to build bridges between individuals, peoples and cultures, to be a sign of hope for humanity," the pope told nine Iranian Muslim leaders participating in a Dec. 2 meeting at the Vatican. The leaders, led by Ayatollah Mahmood Mohammadi Araqi, head of the Organization for Islamic Culture and Communications in Tehran, were participating in their fourth colloquium with members of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. The theme of the meeting, "Truth, Justice, Love, Freedom: Pillars of Peace," was taken from Blessed Pope John XXIII's encyclical, "Pacem in Terris" ("Peace on Earth").

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