Interreligious Assembly
Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 -
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
Vatican City, 24-29 October 1999

On the eve of the third millenium, we the representatives of different
religious traditions who have gathered in the "spirit of Assisi" in the
Vatican City from many corners of the globe wish to share the fruits of our
experiences during these days, the convictions that we have matured and
the hope with which we face the future of our world.

We are conscious of the urgent need

*  to confront together responsibly and courageously the problems and
   challenges of our modern world (i.e., 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 are aware that if we do not fulfil our obligation to live out the
highest ideals of our religious traditions, then we shall be held liable
for the consequences and we shall be judged severely.

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

We are all aware that interreligious collaboration does not imply giving up
our own religious identity but is rather a journey of discovery.

*  We learn to respect one another as members of the one human family.

*  We learn to appreciate both our differences and the common values that
   bind us to one another.

Therefore, we are convinced that we are able to work together to strive to
prevent conflict and to overcome the crises existing in different parts of
the world.

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

We are all aware of the importance of education as a means for promoting
mutual understanding, cooperation and respect. It implies

*  supporting the family as a fundamental building-block of society,

*  helping the younger generation shape their own conscience,

*  underlining common fundamental moral and spiritual values,

*  cultivating a spiritual life (e.g., through prayer, meditation and
   mindfulness according to the practice of each religious tradition),

*  using all means, including the mass media, to impart objective
   information about each other's religious tradition,

*  making sure that text books on history and religions give an objective
   presentation of religious traditions so that individuals belonging to
   these traditions can recognize themselves in that representation.

Everyone is called to engage in this interreligious and intercultural
dialogue.

This leads us to address to a number of appeals:

We appeal to religious leaders to promote the spirit of dialogue within
their respective communities and to be ready to engage in dialogue
themselves with civil society at all levels.

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.

In the spirit of Jubilee, we appeal to each one of us gathered here today

*  to seek forgiveness for past wrongs ,

*  to promote reconciliation where the painful experiences of the past have
   brought divisiveness and hatred and not let the past stand in the way of
   mutual appreciation and love,

*  to commit ourselves to overcoming the gulf between rich and poor,

*  and to work for a world of true and lasting peace.

It is with joy and a spirit of thanksgiving, most of us would say
thanksgiving especially to God, that those gathered here for the
Interreligious Assembly offer to their brothers and sisters
this message of hope.