Pope preaches reconciliation to three great faiths

BY EDWARD PENTIN
POPE JOHN PAUL II chose a historic “Concert of Reconciliation” at the Vatican to urge the world’s three great monotheistic religions to work together to bring about peace .
“Jews, Christians and Muslims cannot accept that the earth be afflicted by hatred, that humanity be troubled by endless wars,” he said in his address at the end of the concert on Saturday evening.
“The history of relations among Jews, Christians and Muslims is characterised by lights and shadows and, unfortunately, has known painful moments,” said the Pope, seated between Elio Toaff, former Chief Rabbi of Rome, and Abdulawahab Hussein Gomaa, Imam of the Rome mosque.
“Today the pressing need is felt for a sincere reconciliation among believers in the one God,” he added, saying the concert gave “concrete expression to this commitment of reconciliation, through the universal message of music.” Numerous other religious leaders were present, including Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Yona Metzger, the secretary general of the World Islamic Call Society, Mohammed Ahmed Sharif, and representatives from the Orthodox Churches, the Federation of Evangelical Churches, and the Anglican Communion.
He said: “Together we express the hope that men will be purified of the hatred and evil that constantly threaten peace, and that they will be able to extend to one another reciprocally hands free of violence but ready to offer help and comfort to those in need. Yes, we must find in ourselves the courage of peace.” The Holy Father referred to what was most common to all three religions — the Patriarch Abraham and the resurrection of the dead.
“[These] are such powerful points in common,” Cardinal Jozef Tomko told reporters after the concert. “They are more powerful than all the divisions”.
Parts of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony no. 2, “Resurrection” and the world premiere of “Abraham” by American composer John Harbison were performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra together with choirs from Turkey and Poland. The London Philharmonic Choir also performed at the event.
The concert was conducted by Jewish-American Gilbert Levine, the man who behind the initiative.