Muslim professor reflects on meeting with Benedict

The Cleveland Plain Dealer features a column by Zeki Saritoprak, a Muslim professor who was present at the interreligious meeting with Pope Benedict at the John Paul II Cultural Center:

The materials for the "Peace Our Hope" meeting all carried the image of Edward Hicks' painting "Peaceable Kingdom," which depicts the beautiful hope of Isaiah 11:6-9: "The wolf shall live with the lamb," and all of the accompanying imagery of peace and harmony in Creation. This image appears in Islamic tradition as well. ...

Of the approximately 150 other participants at the gathering, 25 of us were Muslim. In the wake of the pope's negative remarks about Islam and its prophet at Regensburg University in Germany in 2006, some Muslims felt trepidation about what to expect at the meeting. Any anxiety was quickly alleviated, however, by the pope's humility and openness, which impressed us all.

It is clear to me that, while the pope is deeply knowledgeable about Western thought and Catholic tradition, he is not overly familiar with other religions. He was warm and welcoming to us all, particularly the Jewish participants, to whom he extended a special greeting in honor of their Passover celebration this week. It appears that he is willing to be a part of interreligious dialogue insofar as it does not contradict the main tenets of his faith.

This is particularly good news for Muslims, who share many common traditions with Catholicism, including a special reverence for Jesus and his mother, Mary. Muslims were honored to hear an expression of our own tradition in the pope's final words to us: "Peace upon you all."

Interreligious Gathering at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center

What's Happening Today: Thursday, April 17
6:30 p.m. - Interreligious Gathering at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
NOTE: This post will be updated as more information becomes available on this topic.

The Pope will meet with representatives of other religions on the theme “Peace Our Hope.” Construction on the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center began in 1997 on 12 acres adjacent to the Catholic University of America. Since its dedication in 2000, the Center has been the site of many interreligious discussions and events.

• 6:30 p.m. - The Pope will enter through the front door of the Center. Bishop Richard J. Sklba, chairman, USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs will welcome the Pope along with an audience of some 220 individuals representing five religions: Buddhism, Hindu, Islam, Jainism and Judaism. Pope Benedict XVI will give an address. The Holy Father will then be presented with symbols of peace by five young people:
  • Judaism: Menorah, presented by David J. Michaels, director for intercommunal affairs, Center for Human Rights and Public Policy at B’nai B’rith International.
  • Islam: Qur’an, presented by Saman Hussain, coordinator, Unity Walk 2007.
  • Jainism: Metallic cube, presented by Aditya Vora, a Jain young adult studying at Haverford College in Pennsylvania.
  • Buddhism: Bell, presented by Masako Fukata, a youth leader of Rissho Kosei-kai, a socially engaged Buddhist organization headquartered in Tokyo.
  • Hinduism: Sculpture of syllable Om by Dr. Ravi Gupta, assistant professor of religion, Centre College, Danville, Ky.
  A greeting of interreligious leaders will be followed by a song: "Peace Prayer", attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, sung by a schola cantorum.

Text of Benedict XVI's address - Meeting with representatives of other religions Pope John Paul II Cultural Center:

Americans have always valued the ability to worship freely and in accordance with their conscience. Alexis de Tocqueville, the French historian and observer of American affairs, was fascinated with this aspect of the nation. He remarked that this is a country in which religion and freedom are "intimately linked" in contributing to a stable democracy that fosters social virtues and participation in the communal life of all its citizens. In urban areas, it is common for individuals from different cultural backgrounds and religions to engage with one another daily in commercial, social and educational settings. Today, in classrooms throughout the country, young Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and indeed children of all religions sit side-by-side, learning with one another and from one another. This diversity gives rise to new challenges that spark a deeper reflection on the core principles of a democratic society. May others take heart from your experience, realizing that a united society can indeed arise from a plurality of peoples - "E pluribus unum": "out of many, one" - provided that all recognize religious liberty as a basic civil right (cf. Dignitatis Humanae, 2).

The task of upholding religious freedom is never completed. New situations and challenges invite citizens and leaders to reflect on how their decisions respect this basic human right. Protecting religious freedom within the rule of law does not guarantee that peoples - particularly minorities - will be spared from unjust forms of discrimination and prejudice. This requires constant effort on the part of all members of society to ensure that citizens are afforded the opportunity to worship peaceably and to pass on their religious heritage to their children.

The transmission of religious traditions to succeeding generations not only helps to preserve a heritage; it also sustains and nourishes the surrounding culture in the present day. The same holds true for dialogue between religions; both the participants and society are enriched. As we grow in understanding of one another, we see that we share an esteem for ethical values, discernable to human reason, which are revered by all peoples of goodwill. The world begs for a common witness to these values. I therefore invite all religious people to view dialogue not only as a means of enhancing mutual understanding, but also as a way of serving society at large. By bearing witness to those moral truths which they hold in common with all men and women of goodwill, religious groups will exert a positive influence on the wider culture, and inspire neighbors, co-workers and fellow citizens to join in the task of strengthening the ties of solidarity. In the words of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt: "no greater thing could come to our land today than a revival of the spirit of faith".

Coverage

Pope meets interreligious leaders, says dialogue discovers truth, by Regina Linskey. Catholic News Service. August 27, 2008.
• "Open mike at interfaith papal forum, by Cathy Lynn Grossman. USA Today April 17, 2008:

  ... when the pope and invited Jewish guests had left the room so the pope could share a private greeting for the Passover holiday, which begins at sunset Saturday, one of the Muslim representatives called on the others who had spoken to the pope to share what they said.

  Sayyid Syeed of the Islamic Society of North America said he had thanked the pope for years of efforts toward Catholic-Muslim dialogue, but asked that he be cautious not to disrupt it. Muzammil Siddiqi of the Fiqh Council of North America, told the pope he hoped Muslims might have a special meeting, too.

  Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini said he asked the pope to establish a permanent dialogue between the church and Muslims, noting that the two religions make up more than half of the world's population.

Religious leaders to meet the Pope, bearing gifts

This blog as profiled Ravi Gupta in the past, one of the representatives of the world's religions who will be presenting gifts to the Holy Father during the April 17 interfaith meeting at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center. This week, the USCCB's papal visit blog introduced us to all the participants:

• Representing the Hindu community will be Dr. Ravi Gupta, Assistant Professor of Religion at Centre College, Kentucky, participant in the Hindu-Catholic religious dialogue:

  Dr. Gupta will present to Pope Benedict a gift of the sacred syllable Om in brass sculpture. Hindus believe that Om is the primordial sound of creation itself, in which God is disclosed and where the worshiper experiences peace.

• Representing the Buddhist community will be Ms. Masako Fukata, "an active youth leader of Rissho Kosei-kai, a socially engaged Buddhist organization" and formerly an intern at the Religions for Peace International Secretariat in New York.

  Ms. Fukata will give Pope Benedict a fine cast metal bell. Such bells are used to demarcate the times of meditation practice in all Buddhist traditions.

• Representing the Jain community will be Mr. Aditya Vora, a member of the Long Island Multi-Faith Forum and Habitat for Humanity in West Virginia and the , embodying the foundational principles of Jain ethics: non-violence (ahimsa) and respecting “multiple viewpoints” (anekantavada).

  Mr. Vora will give Pope Benedict XVI a multisided cube that celebrates persons committed to or inspired by Jain ethical principles. The texts inscribed on the cube include the five Namokar mantras, which are recited daily by the faithful, and the principles of Jainism.

• Representing the Jewish community will be David J. Michaels, Director for Intercommunal Affairs at B’nai B’rith International:

  Mr. Michaels will present Pope Benedict with a silver menorah. The silver menorah with its seven lights represents the tradition of Temple worship within Judaism. It is also a symbol of the perennial validity of the covenant between God and Israel, the purpose of which is to establish peace rooted in creation itself.

• Representing the Muslim community will be Samman Hussein. Currently an intern with the U.S. Department of the Interior, she also helped coordinate "the Unity Walk in memory of the victims of the September 11, 2001, tragedy, organized by the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington."

  She will give Pope Benedict one of the most poetic verses of the holy Qur’an (24.35) in the form of a colorful calligraphic design. This verse emphasizes the encounter with God as Light, bringing peace to the soul of the believer.

Meet Ravi Gupta - representing the Hindu faith

The Louisville-Kentucky Courier Journal profiles Ravi Gupta, selected to present a gift to the Pope on behalf of Hindus at the interfaith meeting:

Ravi Gupta thought someone was playing a joke on him when the Centre College religion professor received a phone call inviting him to greet Pope Benedict XVI next month during the pontiff's visit to the United States. ...

"At first I couldn't believe it," said Gupta, 25. "I thought it was a prank call, ... but when I realized what was happening, I was deeply honored and humbled by the opportunity. It's very important in today's world especially for religious leaders to get together and show the world their intention of living together peacefully and trying to understand each other."

He added: "When religious leaders do that, especially people of the caliber of the pope, it really sends a strong message to those of us in the lay community that this is something we need to attempt at the grassroots level."

Gupta will be part of a small delegation bringing gifts to the pope. He'll be presenting an incense burner in the shape of the symbol of the Hindu sacred syllable, om, which Hindus believe is represents the unifying principle from which creation springs. ...

At first, Gupta said he couldn't figure out why organizers of the papal trip had invited him. He later learned he had made a strong impression on Catholics who had attended an interfaith conference where he gave a Hindu perspective on the problem of suffering. (read more)

According to the article, Gupta wasn't phased by the Roman Catholic Church's insistence on being the means to salvation (a point frequently articulated by Pope Benedict when speaking on interreligious matters). In fact, he responded in what one might call a "typically Hindu" fashion:

"The Catholic Church is no means unique in this," he said. "Religious organizations have repeatedly made these types of claims. ... It's important that whatever theology we might have provides room to give hope to our neighbors. No one is without hope, even if they choose to follow another path."

Limited Opportunity for Dialogue at JPII Cultural Center "Interfaith Service" with the Pope

According to the Washington Post's PopeWatch, the interreligious meeting during Benedict's US visit will be a strictly "one way" affair:

Benedict will hold a meeting with interfaith leaders at the John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. on April 17. And he will hold a prayer service with 300 leaders from other Christian denominations at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, in Manhattan the next day.

But in a briefing today at the U.S. Conference of Bishops' headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Rev. Ronald Roberson, associate director of ecumenical and interrreligious affairs and the Rev. Dennis McManus, the conference's liaison to the Jewish faith, made clear that it will be Benedict who will do the talking.

According to the Washington Times, the April 17 interfaith gathering at the John Paul II Cultural Center will consist of a 20-minute papal address "on the use of religion as an instrument of peace", a brief presentation of gifts and the exchange of a few words:

Ravi Gupta, 25, a Hindu professor at Centre College in Danville, Ky., hopes to do more than present the pope with a brass incense holder in the shape of the Sanskrit word "Om."

"I'd like to encourage him to open up a full dialogue with Hinduism and bring Hindus to the table," he said. "That is important considering India's growing presence in the world. Religious issues in India are taking on a lot more significance than they used to."

As is expected, the Jewish people have some concerns to express as well: the matter of the recent revival of the Good Friday prayer calling for the conversion of the Jewish people:

"We as Jews would normally be the last ones to be weigh in on our [ecumenical] partner's internal theological beliefs and liturgical practices, but we were perplexed by the pope's steps to revive the use of a prayer that recommends the conversion of Jews," [said David J. Michaels, director of intercommunal affairs at B'nai B'rith International].

"I don't know if I will have the opportunity to say anything to him about it, but if I do, I'd ask the pope in a spirit of friendship and honesty to take into account the needs and feelings of his Jewish partners."

Jewish reactions to the re-institution of the prayer are mixed. The Times interviewed Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, who begs to differ:

"My position is each religion has to respect the other religion," he said. "It is not for a Jewish person to meddle in the texts of Catholic rituals nor is it right for Christians to meddle in Jewish texts. It'd be brazen for me to criticize what this pope and any other Catholic leader would say in their liturgy."

The pope's visit will overlap with Passover this year. According to , "Benedict wanted to extend — through him and several other Jewish leaders present — Passover greetings to American Jews."