Consultation on Inter-Religious Dialogue
In Africa - South of the Sahara
Dar-es-Salaam 12th to 16th March 2003

The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) organized this meeting. It was held in Dar-es-Salaam at the Catholic Secretariat of Tanzania.

There were 32 participants from 22 countries. These included members of the Council, consultors, chairpersons/secretaries of the national commissions for interreligious dialogue, special guests and the staff of the PCID. Four Missionaries of Africa: Mgr. Michael Fitzgerald, Henri Valette, Guy Vuillemin, and Richard Nnyombi were among the participants.

The moderator of the meeting, was Mgr. Michael Fitzgerald, the president of the PCID. He did very well his job not only as a moderator but also as a choirmaster! The short refrains, which he taught us to sing, added a joyful and spiritual flavor to our reflections! English and French were the two languages used and the two translators were our confreres, Pascal Durand (Pemba) and Donald MacLeod (Dar-es-Salaam).

Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, Archibishop of Dar-es-Salam with Mgr Michael Fitzgerald
Representatives of the Traditionnal African Religion
(Click to enlarge)


Such a consultation, organized at the continental level, takes place every five years. This was the first time to take place in East Africa. Its objective is to facilitate the work of the PCID. Through such a meeting, the PCID gets first hand information concerning interreligious issues from the different parts of the continent. Suggestions are made but there no resolutions taken.

During the opening session, representatives from other Christian denominations and Faith Communities (African Traditional Religion, Islam and Buddhism) presented their messages of goodwill. Also, the President of Tanzania, Mr. Benjamin William Mkapa sent a message of goodwill, (see the text on our web-site). The Apostolic Nuncio was also present and addressed the assembly. Through out this opening session, the Tanzania Episcopal Conference Choir entertained us with lively and meditative songs carrying the message of peace, love, unity and equality of all people.


Representative of African traditionnal religion

Representative of the Buddhists in Tanzania


From the different working papers, reports of activities, discussions and other interventions, the following seem to me to be some of the key points calling for further reflections and action:

- To safeguard the African long tradition of conviviality now threatened by both Christian and Islamic fundamentalism.
- To respect and learn from the diversity of Christian-Muslim encounter experiences lived in the different parts of the continent.
- To clarify the ambiguity concerning dialogue with the followers of ATR.
- Education for inter-religious dialogue.
- Make more active the different national and local interreligious commissions.
- Create a network among those who are actively involved in this ministry.


Closing Eucharistic Celebration on the 16/03/03
outside St Joseph's Cathedral Dar-es-Salaam

 

The consultation was concluded with a beautiful and colorful Eucharistic celebration at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Dar-es-Salaam. Mgr. Michael Fitzgerald was the main celebrant.

Richard Nnyombi (General Assistant)Richard Nnyombi with The apostolic Nounce luigi Pezzuio


Message of Goodwill from the President of the United
Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Benjamin William
Mkapa, To the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious
Dialogue Meeting at the Catholic Secretariat,
Dar-es-Salaam, 12 March, 2003

Your Eminences,
Your Graces,
My Lord Bishops,
Members of the Clergy and Laity,
Men and Women of Faith.

I am sorry that, being out of Dar-es-Salaam, I cannot be with you this afternoon. But my thoughts and prayers are with you.

I welcome you most warmly to our country. I do so on behalf of all the people of Tanzania, of all religions and faiths, confident that the vast majority of our people are firmly committed to inter-religious dialogue, and to peaceful, co-operative, interfaith relations. Tanzanians truly feel honoured that, having decided to meet for the first time in East Africa, you chose Tanzania as your venue. We wish you very fruitful discussions and a very pleasant stay with us.

Tanzania is a multi-religion and multi-faith secular state. Yet, historically, ours has always been an inclusive and tolerant society, even in matters of faith. Our people are used to inter-religious communal living and co-operation. Matters of individual faith are treated as personal, and have never stood in the way of nation-building, of oneness, of sharing each other's pleasures and pains, and of partaking each other's religious festivities and holidays. Inter-faith and inter-religion marriage is common.

Our national image and existence is a dynamic illustration of inter-religious dialogue. And we want to sustain that characteristic regardless of pressures to the contrary. For that is our greatest asset in our resolve to remain one, united, peaceful people, each worshipping freely in accordance with one's faith.

Inter-religious dialogue in Tanzania, whether formally structured or not, rests on the following six pillars:

- First, an avowed acknowledgement of our common and equal humanity. We believe that we are all created equal, and that religious pluralism, properly harnessed, can be a force for spiritual depth and for all-round good, based on shared values.
- Second, a commitment to tolerance of, and respect for, our differences. We do not believe in, and we do not want, a "clash of civilisations" in our country, or anywhere else.
- Third, the belief in personal spiritual freedom, as a fundamental human right. That is why all religions are treated equally, and are equally protected by law.
- Fourth, the commitment to keep politics and religion separate.
- Fifth, an avowed commitment to dialogue and peaceful negotiation, based on mutual trust, should there be need to resolve any differences, and, more importantly, to prevent differences from degenerating into deadly disputes.
- Sixth, an unequivocal repudiation of violence, whether as a way to prove one's righteousness or to sort out differences between religions and faiths, or in state-religion relations.

Your Eminences, Your Graces, My Lord Bishops, faith and religion are meant to be forces for good, forces for mutual love and care; and never forces for violence, for hatred and for mutual suspicion.

Differences between religions and faiths are, and should be, a minor consideration compared to the real threat that people of all faiths should work together to contain- the erosion of morality, the prevalence of unfairness and injustice, and especially the urgent task to protect young and gullible minds from the corruption of what passes as modernity and freedom to indulge in instant gratification. It is in the interest of all religions and of all peoples to promote and espouse human values, in a threateningly valueless egocentric global society.

Athenaeus, writing around 200 AD, cautioned thus: "Treat the other man's faith gently; it is all he has to believe with."

I hope your meeting in Dar-es-Salaam will be yet another milestone and inspiration as all people of goodwill seek to learn to treat each other's faith gently. For whatever we may think of other people's faith, and whatever they may think of ours, that is all each one of us has to believe with.

May God bless your work, and may it produce bountiful fruits.

Benjamin William Mkapa
President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

 

 


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