Cardinal Kasper hopes for closer ties with Islam, Russian Orthodox
Apr 03, 2006
Cardinal Walter Kasper has expressed his hope that a visit to Turkey by Pope Benedict XVI will open new lines of communication with the Islamic world.
Rome, Mar. 28 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Kasper, the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, told the Reuters news agency that relations with Islam today constitute one of the "major problems" facing the Christian world. The German prelate said that he was optimistic that the papal trip to Turkey, scheduled for late November of this year, could be the occasion for advancing talks with Muslim leaders.
The goal of such talks, the cardinal said, should be "to arrive at a relationship with Islam that will not be a clash of civilizations but a dialogue between civilizations." A continued clash between the Islamic and Western worlds, he said, would be "disastrous for the entire world."
To establish friendlier ties, Cardinal Kasper continued, it is essential to pursue talks with "the moderate forces in Islam." He suggested that the Pope might find opportunities for such conversations during his visit to Ankara, and his talks with government leaders there.
Questioned about remarks that the then-Cardinal Ratzinger had made in 2004, expressing misgivings about Turkey's bid for membership in the European Union, Cardinal Kasper emphasized that those comments expressed "a private opinion of Cardinal Ratazinger." In his new capacity as Roman Pontiff, the cardinal said, Pope Benedict will speak with Turkey's government leaders from a different perspective.
The Holy Father is due to visit Turkey from November 28 to 30. The primary purpose of his visit is to meet with the Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. The Pope had hoped to make the trip in 2005, but postponed it when authorities in Ankara declined to issue an invitation last year.
Cardinal Kasper indicated that he also holds high hopes for improvement in relations between the Holy See and the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow. He said that after a "difficult period" in relations, "things are changing."
The cardinal argued that the persistent complaints of the Moscow patriarchate of "proselytism" by Catholic clergy in Russia can be "easily resolved." The two churches have established a joint commission to look into specific complaints, he remarked, and if any concrete complaints are lodged against Catholics, Church leaders will investigate promptly with an eye to corrective action.
In spite of lingering tensions between Moscow and Rome, the cardinal said that the pull toward unity is strong, because the world's two largest Christian bodies see each other as allies in "the battle to discover the Christian roots of Europe and the battle against terrorism," Cardinal Kasper said.
Cardinal Kasper hopes for closer ties with Islam, Russian Orthodox