• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Cardinal George Koovakad, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, greets journalists aboard Pope Francis' flight to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore in this file photo from Sept. 2, 2024. The cardinal once served as the Vatican official responsible for organizing papal trips. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

Christians, Muslims can proclaim beauty of diversity, Vatican says

March 7, 2025
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Vatican, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

ATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a world where people are tempted to build walls to exclude others, Christians and Muslims are challenged to build, through dialogue, a shared future based on fraternity, leaders of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue said in a message to Muslims around the world.

“We do not want simply to coexist; we want to live together in sincere and mutual esteem,” said the message for the month of Ramadan, which began Feb. 28 in many countries and ends March 29.

“The values we share, such as justice, compassion and respect for creation, should inspire our actions and relationships, and serve as our compass in constructing bridges rather than walls, defending justice rather than oppression, protecting the environment rather than destroying it,” it said.

Cardinal George Koovakad, dicastery prefect, and Msgr. Indunil Janakaratne Kankanamalage, secretary, signed the letter, which was released by the Vatican March 7.

“This year, Ramadan largely coincides with Lent, which for Christians is a period of fasting, supplication and conversion to Christ,” the Vatican officials wrote. “This proximity in the spiritual calendar offers us a unique opportunity to walk side-by-side, Christians and Muslims, in a common process of purification, prayer and charity.”

“This year,” they wrote, “we wish to reflect with you not only on what we can do together to live better lives, but above all on what we want to become together, as Christians and Muslims, in a world in search of hope. Do we want to be simple co-workers for a better world or genuine brothers and sisters, bearing common witness to God’s friendship with all humanity?”

“Our world is thirsting for fraternity and genuine dialogue,” they said. “Together, Muslims and Christians can bear witness to this hope, in the conviction that friendship is possible despite the burden of history and ideologies that promote exclusion.”

“Our trust in God is a treasure that unites us, far beyond our differences,” the message said. “It reminds us that we are all spiritual, incarnate, beloved creatures, called to live in dignity and mutual respect.”

“We desire to become guardians of this sacred dignity by rejecting all forms of violence, discrimination and exclusion,” the Vatican officials said. “We have a unique opportunity to show the world that faith transforms people and societies, and that it is a force for unity and reconciliation.”

Today there is a temptation to “build a culture of walls” to prevent encounters with other cultures and other people, they said. “Our challenge is to build, through dialogue, a common future founded on fraternity.”

“Our faith and its values should help us to be voices that speak out against injustice and indifference, and proclaim the beauty of human diversity,” they said.

Read More Ecumenism & Interfaith Relations

Nicene Creed presents ‘the mystery that unites’ Christians, pope says

Council of Nicaea anniversary is call to Christian unity, speakers say

Pope, Romanian bishops, Jewish officials pay tribute to martyred bishop

Bishop calls for prayer after deadly attack outside DC’s Capital Jewish Museum

Pope reaffirms commitment to ecumenical, interreligious dialogue

Dialogue, bridge-building mark early signs of Pope Leo’s dynamic with Jews, Muslims

Copyright © 2025 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Carol Glatz

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

  • superman Movie Review: Superman

  • Hunt Valley parishioner recalls her former student – a future pope

  • DUAL ENROLLMENT Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

  • Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

| Latest Local News |

Scopes Monkey Trial ignited century-long debate on evolution and belief 

Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

Radio Interview: The music and ministry of Seph Schlueter

Hunt Valley parishioner recalls her former student – a future pope

Father Herman Benedict Czaster, former Curley teacher, dies at 86

| Latest World News |

Poll: Record-high percentage of U.S. adults say immigration good for country

Patriarchs support Christian communities attacked by Israeli settlers in solidarity visit

Pope Leo visits Italian Carabinieri station, Poor Clares during summer break

1 officer dead, 3 seminarians kidnapped after attack on Nigerian seminary

Trump administration to appeal after judge blocks ICE detentions based on race

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Poll: Record-high percentage of U.S. adults say immigration good for country
  • Scopes Monkey Trial ignited century-long debate on evolution and belief 
  • Patriarchs support Christian communities attacked by Israeli settlers in solidarity visit
  • Pope Leo visits Italian Carabinieri station, Poor Clares during summer break
  • 1 officer dead, 3 seminarians kidnapped after attack on Nigerian seminary
  • Trump administration to appeal after judge blocks ICE detentions based on race
  • Remember common decency in immigration enforcement
  • Sponsors – for life
  • Listen for God this summer

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en