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Thursday, April 21, 2005
Catholics, Muslims urge unity from Pope
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
* Muslim figures mark birthday of Muhammad with hope that Pope promotes peace
* Local church also says new pope to continue Pope John Paul's doctrines
LOCAL leaders of the Roman Catholic and Muslims voiced hopes Wednesday that newly elected Pope Benedict XVI would continue the "inter-faith" efforts of predecessor Pope John Paul II to further unite "in peace and solidarity" all Christians and Muslims over the world.
This came with reports that the local Muslim communities will celebrate Thursday what they call as the "Mauludin Nabi" or the birthday of their Prophet Muhammad, S.W.W.
The Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro believes there might be no great change from the major church doctrines taught during the time of Pope John Paul II to the present new pope, former cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
The San Antonio de Padua also rang its church bells just past 12:30 midnight when its parish priest and Archdiocese information officer Monsignor Elmer Abacahin received news that a new pope was chosen.
In separate interviews with Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Wednesday, Office of the Muslim Affairs (0MA) 10 Director Ombra Gandamra along with Muslim leaders Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 10 Director Mandangan Darimbang and Sultan Nas Vamenta congratulated the Roman Catholic Church for her new pope.
Gandamra said, "We would like to congratulate our brother Christians and the entire Roman Catholic for having a new Pontiff in the person of Pope Benedict XVI, we pray for his success."
Darimbang for his part said local Muslim communities have been monitoring the conclave with the 115 cardinals at Vatican through the tri-media and were "very happy" when they heard that a new pope has been chosen.
"We were happy that there is now a new pope elected who will continue the efforts of Pope John Paul II in uniting the Christians and Muslims for peace and solidarity of the whole world," he said.
Ecumenism
Darimbang said Ratzinger could now continue in promoting the inter-faith dialogues among religions and the kind of good morality for the entire world.
"We pray for his (Ratzinger's) success and we pray for his good health," he said.
Vamenta for his part said, "I think the new pope is a good choice because he was the most trusted of the late Pope John Paul II."
Meanwhile, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro spokesperson Rey Monsanto said there might be no major changes in the church doctrines with Ratzinger at the helm.
"The new pope had been trusted man of John Paul II so we will surely follow his main teachings; he is great thinker and theologian but very humble person, shy and friendly," he said.
"Maybe cardinals chose him to have continuity with John Paul II but by choosing a different name he wants to say he is different man and not just a shadow of John Paul II," he also added.
Abacahin for his part said there is a 99.9 percent that the works started out by Pope John II would be carried through by the new pope especially those involving interfaith dialogues.
He said this as he cited how Ratzinger, who was then dean of the College of Cardinals and the one who presided over Pope John Paul II' funeral service, allowed non-Catholics to pay their last homage for his predecessor.
"He (Ratzinger) was also the brains behind the write-ups that espoused ecumenism," he said.
Timely
Gandamra, Darimbang and Vamenta said the election of Ratzinger is "very timely" as it was just a day before the birthday celebration of their Prophet Muhammad who also advocated the principles of unity among all religions.
They said they too were also offering prayers that the new pope would carry on the doctrines of Pope John Paul II.
"It was very timely as it was also our prayer that there would be a new pope who would be as good as Pope John Paul II and continue exerting efforts to promote peace and unity just as Prophet Muhammad did during his stay here," Darimbang said in Visayan.
Muslim communities would be holding some festivities in honor of their Prophet Muhammad today.
(April 21, 2005 issue)
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