Vicar of Arabia: the High Committee, a positive step in application of Fraternity Document

The new body will "help promote and apply the content" and facilitate the "realization of all its objectives". For Msgr. Hinder Christians and Muslims are called to be "channels of peace". A text to study in schools and parishes. Appreciation also from the signatories, Pope Francis and the great imam of al-Azhar.

Abu Dhabi (AsiaNews) - The birth of the new body "will help promote and apply the content of the document" and facilitate "the realization of all its objectives" in a "near future" writes Msgr. Paul Hinder, apostolic vicar of southern Arabia (United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen), in a note sent to information to a few days after the establishment of a "high committee".

The body has been tasked with implementing the "Document on Human Fraternity  for World Peace and Living Together". The text, signed by Pope Francis and the imam of al-Azhar last February during the pontiff's journey to the Emirates, is of historical value.

The newborn body (established August 19 in the Emirates) also received the blessing of the Pope and Ahmed Al Tayeb, signatories of the document. The director of the Vatican Press Office Matteo Bruni expressed the pontiff's satisfaction, who encourages "the work of the Committee for the dissemination of the Document, thanks the United Arab Emirates for its concrete commitment in favor of human fraternity and hopes that similar initiatives can multiply in the world ”.

“Although sadly evil, hatred, and division often make news, there is a hidden sea of goodness that is growing and leads us to hope in dialogue, reciprocal knowledge and the possibility of building – together with the followers of other religions and all men and women of good will – a world of fraternity and peace.”

Words of praise also came from the great imam of al-Azhar Ahmed Al Tayeb, who underlines "the uniqueness of his genre" of the document "in modern history". The Muslim leader added that it served as a basis for spreading and relaunching fraternity and coexistence among peoples and the formation of the committee has come at a "crucial moment", in which "all lovers of peace" are called to spread coexistence, brotherhood and tolerance in the world.

In the note the apostolic vicar of Arabia underlines "the Pope’s joy" at the formation of the high committee and hopes that "Muslim and Christian believers will be able to work together for the common good. All of us - he adds - are invited to be "channels of peace" wherever we live or work ". The hope, he continues, is that Christians show "necessary discernment and skills" to start "initiatives and activities" that help "build bridges between people of different faith".

Emphasizing the commitment of "our government", the prelate confirms that the Catholic Church is ready to make its own contribution to the application of the directives established in the document. "I strongly recommend - concludes Msgr. Hinder - and I invite our schools and our parishes to put the Document of Human Fraternity within the curriculum and at the center of their activities ".