He thanks Jordan for accepting refugees and for its moderation, and I like the careful way he phrased this (my emphasis):
I take this opportunity to reiterate my profound respect and esteem for the Muslim community and my appreciation for the leadership of His Majesty the King in promoting a better understanding of the virtues taught by Islam and a climate of serene coexistence between the faithful of the different religions.That strikes just the right note, it seems to me. It avoids religious indifferentism (hey, we're all great religions!) but it would be dishonest and ungenerous not to acknowledge and admire certain virtues in moderate Islam. (Just as an aside...do Mohammed & Nietzsche basically share the objection to Christianity? Namely that it makes men weak? Do Islam and the will to power share an intellectual starting point? Just tossing that out there as an aside...),
The main point, however, is religious liberty. I expect to hear this note sounded repeatedly throughout the trip. Great that these are the first substantive words out of his mouth.
Religious freedom is in fact a fundamental human right and I cannot fail to express my hope that it will be upheld throughout the Middle East and the entire world. The right to religious freedom “includes on the individual and collective levels the freedom to follow one’s conscience in religious matters and, at the same time, freedom of worship… [it also includes] the freedom to choose the religion which one judges to be true and to manifest one’s beliefs in public” (Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, 26). Christians consider themselves, and indeed are, full citizens, and as such they seek, together with their Muslim fellow citizens, to make their own particular contribution to the society in which they live.Hammer it home, Holy Father -- and Lord, protect him.
