Pope, German Muslim leaders eye deepening Christian-Islam dialogue

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Talks between Pope Benedict XVI and German Muslim leaders here on Friday emphasized the need to step up the Christian-Islam dialogue, news reports said.

Meeting behind closed doors at the Vatican Embassy in Berlin, both sides called for boosting dialogue between Muslims and Christians.

According to the Chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany Aiman Mazyek, the Pope is seeking 'to open a new chapter in the inter-religious dialogue.'

Benedict had clearly placed a significant value on a Muslim-Christian dialogue, which was an 'important and beneficial' sign, added Mazyek, and something Muslim leaders view as a 'great opportunity.'

All parties highlighted in their talks the importance of pointing out the similarities between values held by Christians and Muslims.

They also urged the need to join hands in building a better world.

'We can offer an important witness in many key areas of life in society,' the pontiff told a gathering of 15 Muslim representatives from Islamic associations and charities and Islam teachers.

'I am thinking, for example, of the protection of the family based on marriage, respect for life in every phase of its natural course or the promotion of greater social justice.'

'We believers have a special contribution to make towards building a better world, while acknowledging that if our actions are to be effective, we need to grow in dialogue and mutual esteem,' the Pope continued.

The Pope had clearly placed a significant value on a Muslim-Christian
dialogue, which was an 'important and beneficial' sign, said Mazyek, and something Muslim leaders view as a 'great opportunity.'

Benedict's last visit to Germany in 2006 strained Catholic-Islamic relations, after he seemed to suggest that Islam was inherently a violent religion.

Germany is home to around 4.3 million Muslims, of whom two-thirds are of Turkish origin and 45 percent are German citizens.

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