My dear friends, I am deeply grateful to God and to you for the opportunity

to stand here in silence: a silence to remember, a silence to pray, a silence to hope.

X

In visitatione Cupulae a Rupe, in Ierusalem.*

Dear Muslim Friends, as-salámu 'aláikum! Peace upon you!

I cordially thank the Grand Mufti, Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, together

with the Director of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, Sheikh Mohammed Azzam al-

Khatib al-Tamimi, and the Head of the Awquaf Council, Sheikh Abdel Azim

Salhab, for the welcome they have extended to me on your behalf. I am deeply

grateful for the invitation to visit this sacred place, and I willingly pay my

respects to you and the leaders of the Islamic community in Jerusalem.

The Dome of the Rock draws our hearts and minds to reflect upon the

mystery of creation and the faith of Abraham. Here the paths of the world's

three great monotheistic religions meet, reminding us what they share in

common. Each believes in One God, creator and ruler of all. Each recognizes

Abraham as a forefather, a man of faith upon whom God bestowed a special

blessing. Each has gained a large following throughout the centuries and

inspired a rich spiritual, intellectual and cultural patrimony.

In a world sadly torn by divisions, this sacred place serves as a stimulus, and

also challenges men and women of goodwill to work to overcome misunderstan-

dings and conflicts of the past and to set out on the path of a sincere dialogue

aimed at building a world of justice and peace for coming generations.

Since the teachings of religious traditions ultimately concern the reality of

God, the meaning of life, and the common destiny of mankind - that is to

say, all that is most sacred and dear to us - there may be a temptation to

engage in such dialogue with reluctance or ambivalence about its possibilities

for success. Yet we can begin with the belief that the One God is the infinite

source of justice and mercy, since in him the two exist in perfect unity. Those

who confess his name are entrusted with the task of striving tirelessly for

righteousness while imitating his forgiveness, for both are intrinsically orien-

ted to the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of the human family.

For this reason, it is paramount that those who adore the One God should

show themselves to be both grounded in and directed towards the unity of

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* Die 12 Maii 2009.