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   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    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.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    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.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    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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