6533b85bfe1ef96bd12bad8b

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Der Dialog muss weitergehen. Christentum und Islam in den Pontifiaten von Johannes Paul II., Benedikt XVI. und Franziskus

subject

description

The aim of the article is the critical presentation of the vision of the dialogue between Christianity and Islam in the pontifiates of John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. The pontifiate of John Paul II constitutes a quantum leap forward as far as both the practice of dialogue of the Catholic Church with Islam and systematic reflction on its signifiance and theological fundamentals are concerned. The Pope emphasized the signifiance of the common religious and cultural heritage of Christians and Muslims. Both worship the same God and have the common ancestor in faith, namely Abraham. The ties of brotherhood that join them are an obligation for mutual respect as well as shaping peaceful relations between them. Also the gesture of kissing the Koran by John Paul II went down in history and caused much controversy and numerous discussions among theologians. Benedict XVI was more cautious about the issue of interreligious dialogue, more accentuating the diffrences than the elements common for various religious. Thre were two events which caused that in the context of his pontifiate it was talked about a direction change in shaping relations between the Catholic Church and Islam, namely the incorporation of the Pontifial Council for Interreligious Dialogue into the Pontifial Council for Culture and the famous Regensburg lecture. The latter provoked a wave of firce criticism in the Muslim world and lef an indelible scratch on the pontifiate of the German Pope. Francis has made an attempt of bringing the Christian and Muslim dialogue back on the tracks appointed by John Paul II. His relations with Muslims are characterized by openness and willingness of cooperation in favour of peace and respect for dignity of every human being, especially poor and suffring one. Some of his words and gestures cause controversy and lack of understanding the example of which can be washing Muslim women’s feet during the liturgy of Holy Thrsday. Teaching and gestures of the three popes, especially in points of disagreement, can constitute a rich material for theology of religion the task of which is to build theological basis for the dialogue of Christianity with other religions. Th dialogue is not only the need of the hour but it origins from strong theological grounds and thus it needs to be continued.