The paper said the line between religion and politics is blurred in Muslim countries, “relegating Christians to the precarious position of being considered non-citizens, despite the fact that they were citizens of their countries long before the rise of Islam.’’
“The key to harmonious living between Christians and Muslims is to recognize religious freedom and human rights,’’ it said.
In his final Mass in Cyprus yesterday, Benedict said he was praying that the October meeting will focus the attention of the international community “on the plight of those Christians in the Middle East who suffer for their beliefs.’’
He appealed for an “urgent and concerted international effort to resolve the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, especially in the Holy Land, before such conflicts lead to greater bloodshed.’’
The Vatican considers mostly Greek Orthodox Cyprus as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East and invited bishops to come to there to receive the working paper.
The pope said Cyprus can “play a particular role in promoting dialogue and cooperation’’ in the region.
A meeting between the pope and a Muslim leader was scrapped after the Turkish Cypriot official was delayed crossing the United Nations-controlled buffer zone that divides the island between ethnic Turks and Greeks, the Vatican said.
