CATHOLIC-MUSLIM FORUM TO MEET IN NOVEMBER

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000044

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/18/2028
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KIRF VT
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC-MUSLIM FORUM TO MEET IN NOVEMBER

REF: A. A) VATICAN 17 AND PREVIOUS

B. B) 2007 VATICAN 180

CLASSIFIED BY: Rafael Foley, Acting DCM.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (SBU) Summary: The Holy See will host in November the first
meeting of the Catholic-Muslim Forum established in response to
the dialogue proposal included in the October 13, 2007 "A Common
Word" letter from Muslim scholars to the Pope and other
Christian leaders. An original signatory of the letter shared
with polchief his satisfaction with the progress of the
initiative. The meetings of the Catholic-Muslim Forum could
lead to greater religious freedom worldwide and to preempt the
escalation of frictions between Christians and Muslims when they
arise. End summary.


2. (C) Polchief met on June 10 with Imam Sergio Yahe
Pallavicini, Vice President of the Italian Islamic Religious
Community and an original signatory of "A Common Word", to
discuss the meeting between Catholic and Muslim scholars
scheduled for November 4 to 6 in Rome. The event, hosted by the
Holy See, will bring together 24 scholars from each of the two
religions for the first meeting of the recently constituted
Catholic-Muslim Forum. On the Muslim side, the scholars will be
selected from the signatories of "A Common Word", who now number

252. (Note: There is no information at this time on who will be
present for the Catholic side. End note.)


3. (C) Pallavicini expressed his satisfaction with the progress
of the initiative, which he thought was at its
pre-institutionalization stage. In addition to the November
meeting, there will be a weeklong conference at Yale University
(co-sponsored by Harvard University and the Princeton
Theological Seminary) starting on July 24 that will foster a
complementary dialogue with Protestant denominations.
Pallavicini added that he would be participating at the Yale
conference.


4. (SBU) Comment: The first gathering of the Catholic-Muslim
Forum, which is meeting under the theme of "Love of God, Love of
Neighbor", is a positive development in a dialogue that holds
the potential to preempt the escalation of frictions between
Christians and Muslims when they arise. While the Holy See
views the dialogue as an opportunity to obtain greater religious
freedom in Muslim countries, the Muslim scholars' letter places
a greater emphasis on identifying points of theological
agreement -- and thus increase respect for Islam, particularly
in the West. These two aspects of the dialogue will be
addressed in the first two days of the conference, under the
sub-themes of "Theological and Spiritual Foundations" and "Human
Dignity and Mutual Respect".


5. (C) Comment continued: From the Holy See's perspective, a
challenge of the dialogue lies in the limited ability of the
Muslim scholars to influence governments and public opinion in
Muslim countries. As/if the "A Common Word" dialogue gains
prominence, the Holy See hopes that governments in specific
Muslim countries may feel more comfortable expanding religious
freedom. The dialogue is already influencing leaders who are
currently skeptical about the initiative -- such as the Saudi
King (reftel b) -- but who do not wish to be left out of
inter-religious dialogues and are proposing their own
initiatives to the Vatican. End comment.

GLENDON