VATICAN CITY, Oct 20: The Vatican called Friday for mutual respect between Christians and Muslims, even as a senior cardinal warned the Catholic Church to beware of Islam’s ‘religious, social and political revival’.

A message from the Church’s top official for inter-faith dialogue to mark the end of Ramazan referred implicitly to the row provoked by recent remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI, which were seen as insulting to the Islamic faith.

The message addressed to ‘Dear Muslim friends’ by Cardinal Paul Poupard, said: “The particular circumstances that we have recently experienced together demonstrate clearly that, however arduous the path of authentic dialogue may be at times, it is more necessary than ever.”

Poupard referred to “the serious problems which affect our times — injustice, poverty, tensions and conflicts between countries as well as within them”, adding that “Violence and terrorism are a particularly painful scourge”.

“As Christian and Muslim believers, are we not the first to be called to offer our specific contribution to resolve this serious situation and these complex problems?” he said.

“Without doubt, the credibility of religions and also the credibility of our religious leaders and all believers is at stake. If we do not play our part as believers, many will question the usefulness of religion and the integrity of all men and women who bow down before God.”

He added: “The world has need, and so do we, of Christians and Muslims who respect and value each other and bear witness to their mutual love and cooperation to the glory of God and the good of all humanity.”

Poupard’s call was the latest in a series following the pope’s controversial address last month in Regensburg, Germany, when he quoted a medieval Christian emperor equating Islam with violence.—AFP