FINAL DECLARATION FROM INTER-RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 29, 1999 (VIS) - Last evening, during a celebration in St. Peter's Square with the Holy Father to conclude the inter-religious assembly which had met throughout the week to discuss collaboration among the different religions, the participants in that meeting published a final Message.

The assembly was organized and promoted by the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 and by the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue whose president, Cardinal Francis Arinze, made brief introductory remarks.

Following are excerpts from that Declaration, released in English:

"We are conscious of the urgent need:
- To confront together responsibly and courageously the problems and challenges of our modern world (poverty, racism, environmental pollution, materialism, war and the proliferation of arms, globalization, AIDS, lack of medical care, breakdown of family and community, marginalization of women and children etc.).
- To work together to affirm human dignity as the source of human rights and their corresponding duties, in the struggle for justice and peace for all.
- To create a new spiritual consciousness for all humanity in accordance with the religious traditions so that the principle of respect for freedom of religion and freedom of conscience may prevail.

"We are convinced that our religious traditions have the necessary resources to overcome the fragmentations which we observe in the world and to foster mutual friendship and respect between peoples.
"We are aware that many tragic conflicts around the world are the result of the pragmatic but often unjust association of religions with nationalistic, political, economic or other interests."

"We know that the problems in the world are so great that we cannot solve them alone. Therefore there is an urgent need for inter-religious collaboration."

"Collaboration among the different religions must be based on the rejection of fanaticism, extremism and mutual antagonisms which lead to violence."

"We appeal to all the leaders of the world whatever their field of influence:
- To refuse to allow religion to be used to incite hatred and violence.
- To refuse to allow religion to be used to justify discrimination.
- To respect the role of religion in society at international, national and local levels.
- To eradicate poverty and strive for social and economic justice."

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