World Interfaith Harmony Week – February 1-8, 2013

The World Interfaith Harmony Week was first proposed at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2010 by H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan. Just under a month later, on October 20, 2010, it was unanimously adopted by the UN and henceforth the first week of February will be observed as a World Interfaith Harmony Week.

The World Interfaith Harmony Week is based on the pioneering work of The Common Word initiative. This initiative, which started in 2007, called for Muslim and Christian leaders to engage in a dialogue based on two common fundamental religious Commandments; Love of God, and Love of the Neighbor, without nevertheless compromising any of their own religious tenets. The Two commandments are at the heart of the three Monotheistic religions and therefore provide the most solid theological ground possible.

For the Xaverian Missionaries, dialogue and cooperation between the great faiths of the world is integral to task of evangelization and the proclamation of Christ to the world. In 1983 John Paul II said that dialogue with other faiths must be the commitment of the local church, “helping all the faithful to respect and to esteem the values, traditions and convictions of other believers.”  More>>>