Pope Francis: Muslims and Christians must work together

Pope Francis called on Muslims and Christians to “work together”, during his Angelus address in St Peter’s Square on Sunday.

After reciting the Angelus with the thousands of pilgrims gathered in the square, Pope Francis said he wanted to extend his greetings to “Muslims throughout the world, our brothers and sisters, who have just celebrated the end of the month of Ramadan, which is dedicated in a special way to fasting, prayer and almsgiving.”

Pope Francis had written a message to the world’s Muslims for their celebration of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the month of fasting.

Echoing the theme of the message, he told the crowd that he hoped “Christians and Muslims will work together to promote mutual respect,” especially through the way they educate the younger generation.

The Pontiff also asked the pilgrims to think about what Jesus said to his disciples in the Gospel of Luke: “Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

“Do you have a heart that desires or a closed heart, a sleeping heart, an anaesthetised heart?” he asked. “And what, for you, is the most important, most precious thing, that which attracts your heart like a magnet?”

Many people would respond that their family is the most important thing, he said. That’s good, but “what is the force that holds your family together? It’s love, and the one who sows love in our hearts is God.”

Pope Francis told the crowd that God’s love gives meaning to all the daily tasks in a Christian’s life, and it is what helps people face trials.

“To move forward in life with love, with that love that the Lord has sown in our hearts, with the love of God – that is a true treasure,” he said.