Pope Benedict has urged the leaders of the Catholic Church in the Sudan to keep on promoting cooperation with Muslims for a lasting peace in the country.
The Holy Father said the Bishops should initiative a “dialogue of life” which in his view is the first step towards genuine interreligious respect and understanding.Pope Benedict on Saturday received 13 bishops and heads of diocese of Sudan in audience at the end of their official visit to the Vatican.
The meeting with the Holy See ended the week-long visit of the Catholic bishops of the Sudan to the Pope and to the Vatican offices to report on the state of their dioceses.
Pope Benedict said that concrete efforts must be made to diminish the factors contributing to unrest like corruption, violence and tribalism.
The Holy Father encouraged the prelates to strengthening Catholic education and to prepare the lay people in particular, to bear witness to Christ in every aspect of family, social and political life.
Pope Benedict urged the bishops and heads of diocese to be the first teachers and witnesses of communion in faith and the love of Christ.