The LWF president said Lutherans should know that Martin Luther, who triggered the Protestant Reformation 500 years ago, would find the suffering being endured by the people of Iraq and Syria reason to involve himself in such a crisis. Luther would question the false distinction between religion and politics, promote interfaith engagement, address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a factor contributing to the current religiously-sanctioned fanaticism and promote moderation, the bishop noted. “As a leader from a minority movement himself, Luther would no doubt understand us when we say that our danger is not in living with the ‘Other’ but when fanatics seek to persecute us,” Younan said in his address.
Papa Francis alisema kipaumbele kikubwa kwake na kwa kanisa hilo ni kuona viongozi wake wakiwamo mapadri wakijitahidi kuwafikia wanyonge na wanaoishi kwenye mazingira magumu.Katika misa hiyo aliyoiendesha kwenye mji mdogo wa Aparecida, eneo ambalo hutembelewa na waumini 11 milioni kila mwaka kutokana na umuhimu wake kihistoria, alisema katika siku za karibuni, Ukatoliki umeanza kupotea na kuangukia mikononi mwa makanisa na madhehebu mengine.