“The Orthodox Church has been participating in the Interfaith Dialogue for several decades in a spirit of peace, solidarity and respect for all religious traditions,” said Metropolitan Emmanuel of France.
In his statement, Metropolitan Emmanuel also stated: “This is our commitment to all the faithful and every person of good will. Meeting and communicating with fellow humans is essential to combating discrimination and prejudice. Peaceful coexistence does not require common faith. France offers many opportunities for meetings and dialogue with other Christians as well as with representatives of other religions, including Islam.”
Concluding, the Metropolitan of France noted: “As stated in the Message of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church , convened in Crete in June 2016: “The oil of faith must be used to soothe and heal the wounds of others, not to rekindle new fires of hatred.”