Pope John Paul II: A Powerful Force

(Washington, DC - 4/2/05) -- The Muslim Public Affairs Council mourns the passing of Pope John Paul II, a religious leader of tremendous foresight who was tireless in his efforts to embrace people of different faiths.

The most-traveled pope of all times visited many Muslim countries, and, with an unprecedented papal visit to the Omayyad mosque in Syria in 2001, earned respect for his efforts at dialogue with Islam. He marked the historic event by issuing a plea for Christians and Muslims to forgive each other for the past. Over the course of his 26-year papacy, he was a resounding voice for justice, human rights, and peace.
In October 1991, he also became the first Pope to send a personal message to Muslims worldwide upon the completion of the holy month of Ramadan.

"To all Muslims throughout the world, I wish to express the readiness of the Catholic Church to work together with you and all people of good will to aid the victims of the war and to build structures of a lasting peace, not only in the Middle East, but everywhere," the Pope said. "This cooperation in solidarity towards the most afflicted can form the concrete basis for a sincere, profound and constant dialogue between believing Catholics and believing Muslims, from which there can arise a strengthened mutual knowledge and trust, and the assurance that each one everywhere will be able to profess, freely and authentically, his or her own faith."

The Pope viewed the world through compassionate eyes, and viewed Islam as a fellow monotheistic faith. Throughout his papacy, he publicly reached out to Muslims as brothers and sisters in faith.

"In today's world where God is tragically forgotten, Christians and Muslims are called in one spirit of love to defend and always promote human dignity, moral values and freedom," the Pope said in a 1999 speech about religious dialogue with Islam. "The common pilgrimage to eternity must be expressed in prayer, fasting and charity, but also in joint efforts for peace and justice, for human advancement and the protection of the environment. By walking together on the path of reconciliation and renouncing in humble submission to the divine will any form of violence as a means of resolving differences, the two religions will be able to offer a sign of hope, radiating in the world the wisdom and mercy of that one God who created and governs the human family."

On the occasion of his death, the Muslim Public Affairs Council prays for increased tolerance and understanding in the continued pursuit of truth and justice for all people.

[CONTACT: Edina Lekovic, 213-383-3443, communications@mpac.org]