An Expression Of Peace

By DPA, *Pope calls for dialogue* - Manila Bulletin - Manila, Philippines
Sunday, June 6, 2010

Nicosia, Cyprus: Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday called for dialogue between Christians and people of other faiths on the second day of a visit to the decades-long divided island of Cyprus, whose Christian and Muslim communities are separated by a UN-buffer zone.

The pontiff, who is on his first trip to an Orthodox country, said that ''much work still needed to be done throughout the world'' in terms of inter-religious dialogue, but said that ''political and cultural differences between peoples can become a motive to work for deeper understanding.''

While the pope did not specifically mention Islam in his remarks, he is known to support the need for closer dialogue with members of that faith.

Although there were no scheduled plans for Benedict to travel to the Turkish-Cypriot north during his three-day visit to the island, he agreed to hold a meeting with one of their religious leaders, 89-year-old Mufti Sheik Nazim, in the Greek Cypriot south.

Vatican officials said the two men embraced and exchanged gifts near the papal nunciature, which serves as the Vatican's embassy in the divided capital of Nicosia. ''Please pray for me,'' the mufti asked of the pope and the pope said: ''Yes, and will you pray for me?''

Benedict, who has stressed the religious rather than political nature of his visit, also focused on the exodus of Christians from the Middle East. He urged Catholics and Christians remaining in the Middle East not to give up hope, saying their continued presence in the conflict-stricken region was an expression of peace.

Bishops from the Middle East are scheduled to meet at the Vatican in October to discuss the issue and the pope will issue a working document or ''Instrumentum Laboris'' in preparation for the special assembly in Nicosia on Sunday.

''Through the difficulties facing their communities as a result of the conflicts and tensions of the region, many families are taking the decision to move away, and it can be tempting for their pastors to do likewise,'' the pope said during mass at Nicosia's Franciscan church of the Holy Cross, located amid barbed wire and bullet-riddled buildings in the UN buffer zone.

Picture: Pope Benedict (right) talks with Sufi mystic Sheikh Nazim, surrounded by other Muslim clergymen, during their meeting before the mass at the Church of the Holy Cross at the UN-controlled buffer zone of the divided capital of Nicosia, Saturday. Photo: Reuters.