By Carol Glatz • Catholic News Service • Posted July 18, 2014

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians and Muslims should work together to bring peace and reconciliation, especially where the two communities face “the horror of war,” said Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran.

“Let us pray that reconciliation, justice, peace and development will remain uppermost among our priorities for the welfare and good of the whole human family,” said the cardinal, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

On July 18, the Vatican released the cardinal’s annual greeting to Muslims for Eid al-Fitr, the feast marking the end of the monthlong Ramadan fast, which was to conclude on or around July 28 this year.

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“As we know, our contemporary world faces grave challenges which call for solidarity on the part of all people of good will. These include threats to the environment, the crisis of the global economy and high levels of unemployment particularly among young people,” the cardinal said in the message.

So many difficulties can cause “a sense of vulnerability and a lack of hope in the future,” he wrote.

“Let us work together then, to build bridges of peace and promote reconciliation especially in areas where Muslims and Christians together suffer the horror of war,” he wrote.

He asked that “our friendship inspire us always to cooperate in facing these many challenges with wisdom and prudence,” thereby easing tensions and conflict and showing that religions can bring harmony to all of society.

The cardinal said Muslims and Christians “feel responsible in a particular way for those most in need: the poor, the sick, orphans, immigrants, victims of human trafficking, and those suffering from any kind of addiction” as well as families who have been separated from their children and loved ones.

Because of the values Muslims and Christians share, he said, “we are called to work together for justice, peace and respect for the rights and dignity of every person.”