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Christian and Muslim Faith Leaders Unite to Help the Poor

  • Veronica Neffinger

    Veronica Neffinger wrote her first poem at age seven and went on to study English in college, focusing on 18th century literature. When she is not listening to baseball games, enjoying the…

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  • Updated May 09, 2016

Christian and Muslim leaders have met in Rome to discuss how they can work together to care for the poor.

According to ChristianToday.com., Christian and Muslim leaders attending the fourth Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies sought to move past their differences and focus on helping the needy.

Both groups met with Pope Francis who stated, "Dialogue is going out of ourselves, with a word to hear the word of the other. The two words meet, two thoughts meet. It is the first step of a journey. Following this meeting of the word, hearts meet and begin a dialogue of friendship which ends with holding hands. Word, hearts, hands. It's simple. A little child knows how to do it."

At the end of the dialogue, the leaders acknowledged that the two religions “share beliefs and moral values,” and that “Our commonalities are much more than our particularities.”

They focused on the “humanising and civilizing” role both religions can play, particularly in standing in “solidarity” with the poor.

Help to the poor should be extended out of compassion and for the sake of obeying God, said the faith leaders. "It should never be used to proselytise.”

Publication date: May 9, 2016