Pope Meets With Head of International Islamic Organization

ROME – The pope met with the head of an international Islamic organization on Friday, a meeting that was characterized as the first-ever for the group.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), sat down with Pope Francis at the Vatican in an effort to create dialogue between the Muslim and Roman Catholic worlds. A news release from OIC outlined that the presence of Muslims has increased in “historically Christian countries.”

“In this context, the discussions expressed the need for greater efforts to foster respect for religious pluralism and cultural diversity, and to counter the spread of bigotry and prejudices,” the group explained. “It was stressed that interreligious dialogue is a necessary condition for peace in the world, and as such it is a duty for adherents of all faith traditions.”

OIC also advised that Ihsanoglu discussed with the Pope “his vision regarding the need for a ‘historic reconciliation’ between Islam and Christianity based on the common Abrahamic roots and in order to support multiculturalism and harmonious societies.”

...“Turning to mutual respect in inter-religious relations, especially between Christians and Muslims, we are called to respect the religion of the other, its teachings, its symbols, its values,” he wrote. “Particular respect is due to religious leaders and to places of worship. How painful are attacks on one or other of these!”

However, Mike Gendron of Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries of Plano, Texas, told Christian News Network that it is concerning to observe the Vatican’s ecumenical talks with the followers of Islam.

“The pope’s meeting with Muslim leaders is an indication of his continuing efforts to rebuild the religious tower of Babel,” he said. “It is outrageous that he welcomed an organization that promotes Muslim solidarity and which releases an annual report showing the discrimination some societies have against Muslims.”

“He must not be aware that the Quran contains over 100 verses that call Muslims to war against nonbelievers for the sake of Islamic rule,” he continued. “Muslims who do not join the fight are called ‘hypocrites’ and warned that Allah will send them to Hell if they do not join the slaughter.”

Editor's note:  Perhaps the pope should read these articles:  

Islamic Bloc Declines to Condemn All Terrorism

Killings of Christians by Islamists Doubled in 2013
Pope draws fire for whitewashing  Koran

ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE (OIC)
"The OIC countries are ... the reason the United Nations has been unsuccessful in achieving an anti-terrorism convention. The 56 OIC member countries refuse to define terrorism in any way that provides protection to Israel, instead legitimizing terrorism against it."