Full Text

Full text of pope's remarks. Excerpt:

Indeed, "although considerable dissensions and enmities between Christians and Muslims may have arisen in the course of the centuries, the council urges all parties that, forgetting past things, they train themselves toward sincere mutual understanding and together maintain and promote social justice and moral values as well as peace and freedom for all people" ("Nostra Aetate," 3). The lessons of the past must therefore help us to seek paths of reconciliation, in order to live with respect for the identity and freedom of each individual, with a view to fruitful cooperation in the service of all humanity. As Pope John Paul II said in his memorable speech to young people at Casablanca in Morocco, "Respect and dialogue require reciprocity in all spheres, especially in that which concerns basic freedoms, more particularly religious freedom. They favor peace and agreement between peoples" (Address to Moslem Youth in Morocco, Aug. 19, 1985, 5).