8/12/2019 Ceric Letter to Pope Francis

1/2

Qantara.de - Dialogue with the Islamic World

08.04.2013

Former Bosnian Grand Mufti's Message to Pope Francis

all to Muslim-hristian Friendship!he election of "rgentine Pope Francis# the $%%th Bishop of &ome and head of

the &oman atholic hurch# deseres (oth our congratulations and our reflection

for the future of Muslim-hristian coe)istence and dialogue. B* former Bosnian

Grand Mufti Mustafa eric

As a survivor of genocide at the end of 20th century in Bosnia, I am very interested in

the policy of the atican and the message of the !oly "ee, #hich spea$s for the %atholic

%hurch. &hile the political influence of the atican might 'e limited to pu'lic diplomacy,

the spiritual influence has great significance for millions of %hristians around the #orld.%onse(uently, the pope has al#ays had a great impact on glo'al peace and security.

)ope *rancis may find in his t#o immediate predecessors important lessons that could

guide his future relations #ith +uslims.

-ever again hatred and intolerance

)ope ohn )aul II #as a good communicator and supporter of interfaith dialogue. !isrelationship #ith the +uslim #orld #as respectful and promising. *or e/ample, he spo$e

against the four year siege of "araevo every "unday from "t )eters Basilica in ome.

)ope ohn )auls message, -ever again #ar. -ever again hatred and intolerance, has

'een #ell received 'y all people. &hen he visited "araevo in April 1, the late Bosnianpresident Alia I5et'egovic called )ope ohn )aul II one of the most influential men of

the 20th century.&hile relations #ith +uslims #ere strained in an unfortunate #ay #ith )ope Benedict

6Is remar$s a'out Islam and the )rophet +uhammad at the 7niversity of egens'urg

in 200, his su'se(uent apology re$indled dialogue."ee$ing common ground #ith +uslims

9he ensuing dialogue 'egan #ith the A %ommon &ord Initiative, launched 'y 138

+uslim scholars and academics. :n 13 :cto'er 200, these +uslim scholars released an

open letter entitled A %ommon &ord 'et#een 7s and ;ou to %hristians #orld#ide,inviting them to see$ common ground #ith +uslims 'ased on the love of :ne +uslim *orum. 9#o summits have 'een

held so far. 9he first one too$ place at the atican in 2008, #here )ope Benedict 6I

met all the participants and the second one in ordan in 2011. elations #ere also

strengthened through the pilgrimage )ope Benedict 6I made to esuss 'aptism site in

ordan and his visit to the ?ing !ussein +os(ue during the same trip in 2010.

to Muslim-Christian Friendship - Qantara.de - Dialogue with the I... http://en.qantara.de/Call-to-Muslim-Christian-Friendship/2092!2"92...

r 2 #/0$/20" %:09

8/12/2019 Ceric Letter to Pope Francis

2/2

)ope *rancis statement on dialogue, pu'lished in his 2011 'oo$ :n !eaven and =arth

says, @ialogue is 'orn from an attitude of respect for the other person, from a

conviction that the other person has something good to say. It assumes that there is roomin the heart for each individuals point of vie# and opinion. 9o dialogue entails a cordial

reception, not a condemnation. In order to dialogue it is necessary to $no# ho# to lo#er

defences, open the doors of ones house, and offer human #armth.

&ith this in mind, I hope that )ope *rancis has inherited the 'est of 'oth of hispredecessors the openness and good #ill of )ope ohn )aul II to#ards +uslims, and the

#illingness of )ope Benedict 6I to continue dialogue and strengthen relations #ith+uslims #orld#ide.

Indeed, I hope that )ope *rancis #ill rene# the %atholic>+uslim *orum #ith ne#

energy and commitment to the spirit of the A %ommon &ord Initiative #hich )opeBenedict 6I helped 'egin. &ith such #or$, I am hopeful for my t#o grandchildren that

they may live in peace in Bosnia #ithout fear of religiously motivated violence.

&e are in the same 'oat

&ith strong interfaith relations, there are three areas of common human concern that)ope *rancis might ma$e important in his pontificate. *irst is the issue of poverty, #hich

should have an appeal to our human and religious conscience. "econd is the issue ofclimate change due to glo'al pollution caused 'y human negligence and greed. And third

is the issue of nuclear threats that could lead to human self>destruction.

9hese issues are glo'al in nature and local in action. egardless of our faith, culture, race,

nationality and ideology, #e are in the same 'oat of glo'al collapse or salvation.

9herefore, #e need to 'uild our ar$ #ith peace, dialogue and mutual respect.

I hope that )ope *rancis #ill do #hat he can to #or$ #ith +uslims and others in orderto 'uild an ar$ that #ill save this common humanity of ours.

+ay