Muslim groups welcome Pope Francis’ visit amid Bangsamoro talks

MANILA, Philippines–Muslim groups in the country are also looking forward to welcoming Pope Francis during his five-day state and apostolic visit to the country as they hope for peace in Mindanao.

Amina Rasul, president of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, said Muslims in the Philippines “welcome the arrival of the Pope as we are in the last chapters of the peace process with the Moro liberation fronts of Mindanao.”

“Pope Francis’ call for peoples of all faiths to respect each other’s religions and come together as a global community should resonate among the diverse peoples of Mindanao,” Rasul said.

The Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN) also expressed solidarity with the pope’s call for global peace, adding that they are hoping that he could give a message of support for the peace process in Mindanao.

“We are one with many Filipinos in welcoming the visit of the Pope in the country. Pope Francis has visited many countries with the call for peace, interfaith dialogue, religious tolerance, and unity, which are cherished values in Islam,” YMPN chair Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman said.

“May his words and actions influence more people, starting with the youth, to help build a culture of sustainable peace in the country and the whole world. May his compassion and peace building efforts across religions, including Islam, inspire our leaders to do what’s best for our people, who have the right to live in peace,” she said.

Datu Alexander Mama-o, president of the Filipino Alliance for Integrity and Reform (FAIR Movement-Philippines) also hopes the pope’s visit will be followed by the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which is pending in Congress.

“It will be a historic law that aims to unite all Filipinos [in reaching for] our shared dream for peace and economic development,” Mama-o said.

Professor Al-Rashid Jama, chair of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society- Western Mindanao Chapter, is also hopeful the pope will speak about the Mindanao peace process.

“We have a working pope that’s the positive thing,” Jama said.

Allan Balangi, who heads a Bangsamoro movement, said, “We hope the visit of the pope will touch the hearts and minds of Filipinos, especially our lawmakers, to urge them to work for peace in Mindanao through the proposed law. The Bangsamoro bill is for peace and unity of all Filipinos.”

Balangi said the story of peace-building through the BBL, having ended decades of struggle in the south, could inspire the rest of the world.

Ghadzali Jaafar, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) vice chairman for political affairs, has announced that the group would send representatives, headed by Sheikh Abu Hurairah Abdulrahman Udasan, Grand Mufti of the Darul Ifta (Islamic House of Opinion), to pay their respects to Pope Francis during his visit.

“We stand in solidarity with Pope Francis’ call to respect one another as brothers and sisters, to understand the suffering of others, to not abuse the name of God through violence, and to work together for justice and peace,” Yasmin Busran-Lao, secretary of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and peace panel member, said.

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