VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 134
DATE 18-07-2014

Summary:
- THE HOLY FATHER TELEPHONES SHIMON PERES AND MAHMOUD ABBAS: SEEK AN END TO
HOSTILITIES
- FRANCIS PRAYS FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE MALAYSIAN AIRLINES TRAGEDY
- BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS: KEY WORD OF THE MESSAGE FOR
THE END OF RAMADAN

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 THE HOLY FATHER TELEPHONES SHIMON PERES AND MAHMOUD ABBAS: SEEK AN END TO
HOSTILITIES
 Vatican City, 18 July 2014 (VIS) - Following last Sunday's heartfelt
appeal for continued prayer for peace in the Holy Land, this morning the
Holy Father Francis personally telephoned President Shimon Peres of Israel
and President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine to share his very serious concerns
regarding the current situation of conflict involving in particular the
Gaza Strip which, in a climate of growing hostility, hatred and suffering
for the two populations, is claiming many victims and giving rise to a
serious humanitarian emergency.
 As during his recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land and on the occasion of
the invocation for peace on 8 June, the Holy Father assured them of his
ceaseless prayer, and that of all the Church, for peace in the Holy Land.
He reminded the presidents, whom he considers to be men of peace and
seekers of peace, of the need to continue to pray and endeavour to ensure
that all the interested parties and those who hold political office at
local and international level work to bring an end to hostilities, making
efforts to promote truce, peace and reconciliation in the hearts of those
involved.

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 FRANCIS PRAYS FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE MALAYSIAN AIRLINES TRAGEDY
 Vatican City, 18 July 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father Francis has learned
with dismay of the tragedy of the Malaysian Airlines aircraft downed in
east Ukraine, a region marked by high tensions. He raises prayers for the
numerous victims of the incident and for their relatives, and renews his
heartfelt appeal to all parties in the conflict to seek peace and solutions
through dialogue, in order to avoid further loss of innocent human lives.

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 BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS: KEY WORD OF THE MESSAGE FOR
THE END OF RAMADAN
 Vatican City, 18 July 2014 (VIS) - "Towards a genuine fraternity
between Christians and Muslims" is the title of the message sent by
the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to mark the end of
Ramadan ('Id al-Fitr 1435/2014 A.D.). The document is signed by Cardinal
Jean-Louis Tauran and Fr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot M.C.C.J., respectively
president and secretary of the dicastery.
 "Last year, the first year of his ministry, Pope Francis personally
signed the Message addressed to you on the occasion of ‘Id al-Fitr. On
another occasion, he also called you 'our brothers and sisters' (Angelus,
11 August 2013). We all can recognize the full significance of these words.
In fact, Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters in the one human
family, created by the One God".
 The message goes on to recall the words of Saint John Paul II to Muslim
religious leaders in Nigeria in 1982: "All of us, Christians and
Muslims, live under the sun of the one merciful God. We both believe in one
God who is the creator of man. We acclaim God's sovereignty and we defend
man's dignity as God's servant. We adore God and profess total submission
to him. Thus, in a true sense, we can call one another brothers and sisters
in faith in the one God".
 "We thank the Almighty for what we have in common, while remaining
aware of our differences", the message continues. "We perceive
the importance of promoting a fruitful dialogue built upon mutual respect
and friendship. Inspired by our shared values and strengthened by our
sentiments of genuine fraternity, we are called to work together for
justice, peace and respect for the rights and dignity of every person. We
feel responsible in a particular way for those most in need: the poor, the
sick, orphans, immigrants, victims of human trafficking, and those
suffering from any kind of addiction".
 "As we know, our contemporary world faces grave challenges which call
for solidarity on the part of all people of good will. These include
threats to the environment, the crisis of the global economy and high
levels of unemployment particularly among young people. Such situations
give rise to a sense of vulnerability and a lack of hope for the future.
Let us also not forget the problems faced by so many families which have
been separated, leaving behind loved ones and often small children. Let us
work together, then, to build bridges of peace and promote reconciliation
especially in areas where Muslims and Christians together suffer the horror
of war".
 The document concludes by expressing the hope that our friendship may
"inspire us always to cooperate in facing these many challenges with
wisdom and prudence. In this way we will help to diminish tension and
conflict, and advance the common good. We will also demonstrate that
religions can be a source of harmony for the benefit of society as a whole.
Let us pray that reconciliation, justice, peace and development will remain
uppermost among our priorities, for the welfare and good of the whole human
family. Together with Pope Francis, we are happy to send you our cordial
best wishes for a joyful celebration and a life of prosperity in
peace".

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