Thanking God for allowing him "to take another step along the road of dialogue and encounter with our Muslim brothers and sisters as a Servant of hope in today's world", Francis opened up about what he and his host, Morocco's ruler King Mohammed VI, had discussed during their meeting.

"King Mohammed and I reiterated the essential role religions have in defending human dignity, promoting peace and justice, and in caring for creation, our common home."

He said one of the topics he and Mohammed discussed during his two-day visit focused on tolerance and coexistence between the three Abrahamic religions - Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Therefore visiting Muslims as well as Catholics is important, Francis said, because both faiths come from "the same father, Abraham".

He regards his trip as another step on a journey of "dialogue and encounter with (our) Muslim brothers and sisters."

Francis also told those present at the General Audience that people shouldn't be afraid that God has allowed different religions in the world.

"But we should be frightened if we are not doing the work of fraternity, of walking together in life as brothers and sisters of one human family."

He said in deciding to make the trip to Morocco, he wanted to follow in the footsteps of two great saints: St Francis of Assisi, who brought a "message of peace and fraternity" to Sultan al-Malik al-Kami 800 years ago, and St John Paul II who visited Morocco in 1985.

An additional benefit of his trip, he said, was that it provided him with the opportunity to thank the Church in Morocco for its commitment towards migrants and for encouraging "those who give generous service in realising the words of Christ."

Source

• Morocco World News
• America Magazine
• Image: The Arab Weekly

On Saturday, the first day of a two-day trip, he told Morocco's Catholic community they should avoid attempting to convert Muslims.

Instead, he suggested they should seek to have good ties with people of all faiths.

"Christians are a small minority in this country. Yet, to my mind, this is not a problem, even though I realize that at times it can be difficult for some of you," he said at a meeting with Catholic community leaders in Rabat's cathedral.

"The Church grows not through proselytism but by attraction," Francis said to applause.

"This means, dear friends, that our mission as baptised persons, priests and consecrated men and women, is not really determined by the number or size of spaces that we occupy, but rather by our capacity to generate change and to awaken wonder and compassion," he said.

Francis backs Morocco's efforts to promote a moderate version of Islam.

"We believe that God created human beings equal in rights, duties and dignity, and he calls them to live as brothers and sisters and to spread the values of goodness, love and peace," he said.

"That is why freedom of conscience and religious freedom, which is not limited to freedom of worship alone, but allows all to live in accordance with their religious convictions, are inseparably linked to human dignity."

In response, Morocco's King Mohammed VI underlined the importance of education to tackle radicalism.

He said the three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) were created "to open up to one another and to know one another."

Religions offer venues to fight against radicalism through knowing one another, which will help rise to the challenges of our tormented times through education, the king said.

"To tackle radicalism, the solution is neither military nor financial; that solution has but one name: Education."

The monarch noted that in the face of ideology-linked violence and extremism prevailing in many parts of the world today, "it is clear the dialogue between the Abrahamic religions is insufficient."

He pleaded for rethinking the role of education in the struggle against extremism.

The king says ignorance, or erroneous interpretation of the peaceful and humanity-celebrating messages of religions, is the primary source of many of the problems facing the world.

"My plea for education is an indictment of ignorance. It is binary conceptions and the fact of not knowing one another well enough that are threatening our civilisations; it is certainly not religion."

When taught, understood, and practised as recommended in the scriptures, religion can be a source of blossoming relations between people and countries, he said.

On Sunday when celebrating Mass, Francis told the congregation that he encourages them "to continue to let the culture of mercy grow, a culture in which no one looks at others with indifference, or averts his eyes in the face of their suffering."

The languages used at the Mass reflected the fact that the Catholic community in Morocco is made up almost entirely of foreigners. The readings were in Spanish, Arabic and French; English, Portuguese and Italian were added for the prayers of the faithful.

More than a dozen Muslim leaders attended the Mass in a sign of friendship and were given seats near the front of the arena.

Source

• Morocco World News
• DW
• Reuters
• America Magazine
• Catholic News Service
• Catholic Herald
• Image: France 24

The King - who is also a Shiite-Muslim leader - spoke out about the responsibility of "many Islamic groups and institutions" which claim they represent "real Islam" but instead encourage the "spread of an extremist ideology.

"With the proliferation of spread obscurantism in the name of religion, all Muslims, Christians and Jews, must draw up a common front to counter bigotry, hatred and withdrawal in all forms," the king urged.

The King called on fellow-citizens to be patient, to defend peace and to live in harmony with others.

He also asked them to "continue to uphold the values of their religion as well as their ancient traditions": this is the best way to respond to the jihadist phenomenon which is "alien to them".

"We strongly condemn the killing of innocent people," the King of Morocco added, in reference to the elderly French priest who had his throat slit inside his own church.

The monarch described the assassination of "a priest inside a church" as "unforgiveable madness". "Whoever incites murder and aggression" using the Quran to do so, "is not a Muslim", Mohammed said.

"Terrorists who act in the name of Islam are individuals who have been led astray and are condemned to eternal hell".

Finally, the king observed that jihadism "takes advantage of some young Muslims, especially in Europe, exploiting their ignorance of the Arabic language and true Islam to pass on false and wrong messages and promises".

Source

• Vatican Insider
• Image:www.moroccotomorrow.org