Monday at Vienna’s Hofburg Palace 800 invited guests, including ranking officials from the three founder States - the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Austria and Spain – and United Nations Secretary General Ban ki-Moon attended the inauguration of the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Inter-religious and Inter-cultural Dialogue (KAICIID). Its name refers to the initiative of the King of Saudi Arabia. The Holy See, having accepted an invitation to participate as a "founding observer," was represented at the ceremony by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.

In his address Cardinal Tauran said, “We are being watched. Everyone is expecting honesty, vision and credibility from the initiative of His Majesty King Abdullah, supported by the governments of Austria and Spain, with the assistance of the Holy See as Founding Observer.” He added that, “This Center presents another opportunity for open dialogue on many issues, including those related to fundamental human rights, in particular religious freedom in all its aspects, for everybody, for every community, everywhere.”

“In this regard,” continued Cardinal Tauran, “you will understand that the Holy See is particularly attentive to the fate of Christian communities in countries where such a freedom is not adequately guaranteed. Information, new initiatives, aspirations, and perhaps also failures will be brought to our attention.” When that happens, he said, “It then will be the task of the Center – and when possible with the cooperation of other organizations – to verify their authenticity and to act consequently, in order that our contemporaries not be deprived of the light and the resources that religion offers for the happiness of every human being.”

Saudi Arabia does not allow any churches of any denomination to be built on its soil. About 90% of Saudis are Sunni Muslim, while the remaining are Shiite. Christians are allowed to enter the country for work but not allowed to practice their faith or wear or display religious signs such as Bibles, crosses, etc. They generally worship in secret in private homes, and the “religion police” generally turn a blind eye to this. The Vatican for years has been working behind the scenes to get Saudi Arabia to allow the building of at least one house of worship for the estimated one million Catholics, mostly Filippino workers, in the country.

Ban ki-Moon Monday had words of encouragement for the initiative. "I fully support your vision of religion as an enabler of respect and reconciliation,"

The center has not been without its critics, however, and some have raised questions about the motives and meaning behind the Holy See's adherence to this initiative.

Holy See Press Office Director, Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. offered clarifications on November 23rd when the Vatican announced Monday’s inauguration ceremony. He said the aim of the Center “is to foster dialogue among religions and cultures. This goal is to be regarded favorably with a view to fostering understanding and peaceful coexistence among populations, a matter of fundamental urgency for humanity today and in the future.” In fact, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, and the Holy Father discussed these aims during their meeting on November 6, 2007 in Vatican City.

Fr. Lombardi went on to say, "It is important to note that the new center is not a proprietary institution of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but rather an independent international organization recognized by the United Nations and founded by three States, two of which have centuries-old Christian traditions. It therefore provides an opportunity and space for dialogue, and it is right that the Holy See should avail herself of the opportunity to be present, in order to offer her experience and trusted expertise in the field of inter-religious dialogue. The status of founding observer is most apt to guarantee just such a presence, respecting the nature of the Holy See and permitting the Holy See to express her specific concerns and expectations.”

"The Catholic Church,” said Fr. Lombardi’s statement, “is present among the various religions and religious communities on the Board of Directors, which is defined as the motor of the Center's initiatives, and she will be represented from the outset by Fr. Miguel Ayuso Guixot M.I.I.C., secretary of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. This will constitute an important opportunity to present the vision of the Church in matters of dialogue, the human person and vocation, ethics and religion, social relations, justice and peace in a prominent cultural and international context. This has certainly taken place, and continues to do so, in many contexts and on many different occasions, but the variety and pluralism of today's world necessitate a multiplicity of directions and opportunities in which the active and proactive role of the Church may be developed whenever possible.”

"Naturally,” ended the statement by the papal spokesman, “the Holy See, as a founding observer, will make every effort to express her concerns regarding the effective respect for the basic rights of Christians living in countries with a Muslim majority, in order to promote authentic and integral religious freedom. The new center in Vienna will offer a suitable space in which these concerns may be raised and heard, and in which appropriate solutions may be found to problems as they arise." King Abdullah will financially support the Center for three years, after which it must become self-sustaining The Center’s Board consists of three Christians, three Muslims, and one Jewish, one Hindu and one Buddhist member.

The U.N.’s Ban Ki-moon said Monday that, given recent conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world, dialogue between religions is more necessary than ever.

He also called for renewed efforts to achieve a two-state solution in the Middle East. "More than ever, “ he said, referring to Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza, “we need a negotiated two-state solution ending the occupation and the conflict. …I am determined to ensure that the ceasefire is sustainable. Both sides must adhere to the agreement.”

Ki-Moon said this is not enough. "The underlying issues must be addressed. This is critical to regional stability. A just and comprehensive peace is our ultimate goal -- and it is the only way to bring lasting security to all."

2012 SYNOD ON EVANGELIZATION: FINAL PROPOSITIONS 15, 16

Proposition 15 : NEW EVANGELIZATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS Consistent with the emphasis placed on human dignity by the New Evangelization, this Synod urges legislators, teachers and others who work in the human sciences to grant full respect to the human person both in public policy and practice. At the same time, every opportunity must be taken in various local situations and associations to articulate, uphold and guard, both in theory and in practice, those rights flowing from an adequate understanding of the human person as set forth in the natural law.

**Proposition 16 : RELIGIOUS LIBERTY The Synod Fathers reaffirm that religious freedom is a basic human right. This includes the freedom of conscience and also the liberty to freely choose one’s religion. We are in solidarity with our brothers and sisters, in different parts of the world, who are suffering from lack of religious freedom and even persecution. In light of the recognition of the Second Vatican Council as an instrument for the New Evangelization and the growing need to protect the religious liberty of Christians throughout the world, the Synod Fathers propose a renewed commitment to and wider diffusion of the teachings of Dignitatis Humanae. This renewal seeks to affirm and promote freedom in religious matters for individuals, families and institutions to protect the common good of all. Such a freedom includes the right to teach the Christian faith without compromise of its tenets to children in the family and/or school. The Synod Fathers propose that the Holy Father consider the opportuneness of establishing a commission of Church leaders representing various parts of the Church throughout the world or entrusting this task to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, to address attacks on religious liberty, and to obtain accurate information for public witness to the fundamental right to religious freedom and freedom of conscience.

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