Islamic-Catholic Liaison Committee Meeting Report

The theme of the meeting was: Believers confronting materialism and secularism in society.

After listening to the papers presented by Catholic and Muslim scholars and exchanging views about the above mentioned theme, the participants agreed upon the following:

1. Christianity and Islam affirm the inseparability and complementarity between the material and the spiritual domains. Our responsibility as believers is to reconcile these dimensions of life.

2. Many people today suffer from the loss of spiritual and religious roots; this phenomenon weakens both the inner and moral dimensions of individuals and societies.

3. The world today is facing many kinds of crises. We recognize our common responsibility as believers in God to do all that is possible to protect vulnerable people at this time.

4. The participants were honored and pleased to be received in audience by His Holiness Pope Francis, who encouraged them to continue their efforts on the path of respectful and fruitful dialogue between believers for the peace and prosperity of our world.

5. We strongly condemn in particular what is happening in Syria: killing of many innocent persons, aggression against the sacred character of human life and against the dignity of persons; therefore we urge the Regional and International Organisations to do what is possible to stop the bloodshed, according to International Law.

6. The Committee will hold its next meeting in Tatwan (Marocco); it will be preceded by a preparatory event. The Muslim side will undertake to organize it.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran
President
Pontifical Council
for Interreligious Dialogue

Prof. Dr Hamid bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie
President
International Islamic Forum
for Dialogue