Pope calls on Muslims and Christians to more dialogue

To kick off his two-day visit to Morocco, has called on Pope Francis to the Christians and the Muslims to be more dialogue to address the world's problems. "In this country, a natural bridge between Africa and Europe, I would like to emphasize once more the necessity of cooperation," said Pope Francis on Saturday in the Moroccan capital Rabat. There is a new impetus for a world would have to be given with greater solidarity.

The trip to the North African Kingdom is in the sign of Migration and inter-religious dialogue; both of these topics, Pope Francis. "The sincere dialogue we want to encourage, said leads also to consideration for the world in which we live, our common homeland", Pope Francis at the foot of the Hassan tower, an 800-year-old, unfinished minaret.

Together with the Moroccan king, Mohammed VI, referred to also as "head of all believers", continued the Pope from the airport in Rabat to the city center: Pope Francis in the popemobile, king Mohammed waved the Moroccans out of the sunroof of a black Limousine. In spite of the for Morocco unusual rain the road were on the right and the left of several Hundred people.

the king: dialogue insufficiently

The reality of this world make it clear that the dialogue between Christians, Muslims and Jews was insufficient, said the king. "The dialogue has been going on for a long time, and yet he has not reached his goal yet," said the Monarch. On the Esplanade square in front of the Hassan tower are also numerous migrants from countries South of the Sahara.

Francis and king Mohammed VI reaffirmed the Status of Jerusalem as a Holy city to the three monotheistic religions of the world. "It is our hope that in this Holy city to all believers (...) full access is guaranteed," it was said on Saturday in a joint statement. "We believe it is important that Jerusalem, as the common heritage of mankind (...) the preserved remains." In the city it always comes back to conflicts between Muslims and Israeli security forces. Israel has blocked in the past in riots more frequent access to the temple mount for Muslims. Is the place to Jews and Muslims alike sacred.

The Pope's visit in the afternoon, the Mausoleum of king Mohammed V and an Imam school. The solidarity of all believers needed to counter fanaticism and extremism, said Francis. In the war in Syria, many Moroccans of the Terrorist have joined Islamic state (IS).

Only at the end of last year, two Scandinavian student were killed in Central Morocco brutally. The authorities saw indications of a Terrortat. In Morocco Islam is the state religion. According to the Vatican, only around 23'000 people there are Catholic. Most of them are drawn either from Europe or especially from countries South of the Sahara.

bishops: difficulties for Catholics

In the run-up to the visit, the two Catholic bishops had pointed out in Morocco on the difficulties for the minorities in the North African country and, therefore, a discussion sparked. The Pope expressed however the hope that Morocco would continue to be "an example for humanity for migrants and refugees".

is Always denounced again by non-governmental organisations, the handling of the Moroccan security forces of migrants. For some time, migrants from countries South of the Sahara in buses from the Mediterranean coast are transported into the southern parts of the country, to keep them away from the boundaries in the direction of Europe.

Morocco has moved to the topic of Migration, most recently reinforced in the focus, since Rome departs from its hard course, and the Crossing from Libya to Italy is much more difficult. The main route has shifted towards the view of the EU border protection Agency Frontex, in the meantime, to the Western Mediterranean.

For Francis, it is the first trip to Morocco. Before him, Pope John Paul II in 1985 had visited the North African Kingdom. In a video message before the trip, Pope Francis said he will come as a "pilgrim of peace and brotherhood" to Morocco. (red/sda)

Created: 30.03.2019, 18:58 PM