Here is the translation of a statement released today by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, along with a delegation of Imams from France, regarding yesterday’s terrorist attack at the offices of French magazine, «Charlie Hebdo».
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As we reach the end of the meeting in Rome of the four Imams of France, who attended yesterday’s general audience along with the delegation from the French Episcopal Conference, the participants, shocked by the heinous attack on 7 January 2015 on the offices of the publication “Charlie Hebdo”, wish once more to echo the words pronounced by Pope yesterday and this morning, denouncing this cruelty and blind violence. Like him, we invite believers to show through friendship and prayer their human and spiritual solidarity towards the victims and their families.
In these circumstances, it should be noted that, without freedom of speech, the world is in danger: it is imperative to oppose hate and every form of violence that destroys human life, violates the dignity of the person and radically undermines the foundation of peaceful co-existence between persons and peoples, notwithstanding differences of nationality, religion and culture.
Religious leaders are called upon to further promote a “culture of peace and hope” able to conquer fear and to build bridges between people.
Considering the impact of the media, their leaders are invited to offer information that is respectful of religions, their followers and their practices, thus favouring a culture of encounter.
Interreligious dialogue remains the only path to follow together to dissipate prejudice
His Eminence Cardinal Jean-Louis TAURAN
Monsignor Michel DUBOST
M. Tareq OUBROU
M. Azzedine GACI
M. Mohammed MOUSSAOUI
M. Djelloul SEDDIKI
Father Christophe ROUCOU
