510 Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale

6. This love finds its deepest expression in common prayer. When Christians

pray together, they come to realize that what unites them is much greater

than what divides them. Our longing for unity receives its inspiration from

the prayer of Christ "that all may be one".3 Let us deepen our shared roots in

the one apostolic faith by praying together and by seeking common transla-

tions of the Lord's Prayer and a common date for the celebration of Easter.

7. As we journey towards the blessed day when we will at last gather at the

same Eucharistic table, we can cooperate in many areas and demonstrate in a

tangible way the great richness which already unites us. We can bear witness

together to fundamental values such as the sanctity and dignity of human

life, the sacredness of marriage and the family, and respect for all of creation,

entrusted to us by God. In the face of many contemporary challenges such

as secularization and the globalization of indifference, we are called to offer

a shared response based on the values of the Gospel and the treasures of our

respective traditions. In this regard, we are encouraged to engage in a deeper

study of the Oriental and Latin Fathers, and to promote a fruitful exchange

in pastoral life, especially in catechesis, and in mutual spiritual enrichment

between monastic and religious communities.

8. Our shared Christian witness is a grace-filled sign of reconciliation and

hope for Egyptian society and its institutions, a seed planted to bear fruit in

justice and peace. Since we believe that all human beings are created in the

image of God, we strive for serenity and concord through a peaceful co-exist-

ence of Christians and Muslims, thus bearing witness to God's desire for the

unity and harmony of the entire human family and the equal dignity of each

human being. We share a concern for the welfare and the future of Egypt. All

members of society have the right and duty to participate fully in the life of

the nation, enjoying full and equal citizenship and collaborating to build up

their country. Religious freedom, including freedom of conscience, rooted in

the dignity of the person, is the cornerstone of all other freedoms. It is a sa-

cred and inalienable right.

9. Let us intensify our unceasing prayer for all Christians in Egypt and through-

out the whole world, and especially in the Middle East. The tragic experiences

and the blood shed by our faithful who were persecuted and killed for the sole

3 Jn 17:21.