Pope Francis defends in Morocco "freedom of conscience"

RABAT, 30 (AFP / NA) – Pope Francis began a brief visit to Morocco on Saturday, calling for "freedom of conscience" and "solidarity" against "fanaticism" in a speech to thousands of people and King Mohamed VI.

"Freedom of conscience and freedom of religion – which are not limited to freedom of worship, but allow everyone to live according to their religious beliefs – are inseparable from human dignity," said the pontiff, urging
believers "live as brothers".

Freedom of belief in Morocco, a country that defends moderate Islam, is a sensitive subject. Last June, the Moroccan minister for human rights, the Islamist Mustapha Ramid, felt that freedom of conscience was a "threat" to the cohesion of Morocco.

"It is essential to oppose fanatics and fundamentalism to the solidarity of all believers, as invaluable references in our way of acting on values ​​that are common to us," added the pope.

"What all terrorists have in common is not religion, but precisely the ignorance of religion.The time has come for religion to no longer be an excuse for the ignorant, for this intolerance, "said Mohamed VI.

The spiritual leader of 1300 million Catholics has been invited by the Moroccan "commander of believers," Mohamed VI, to promote "interreligious dialogue," according to the government. A favorite subject of Francisco, whose papacy is continually affected by the flood of bad scandals.

The two leaders recalled that Jerusalem is "the common heritage of the three monotheistic religions". "We believe that it is important to preserve the holy city of Jerusalem / Al Quds Asharif as a common heritage of humanity and, above all, for the faithful of the three monotheistic religions," they said in a statement. their joint declaration.

Mohamed VI chairs the "Al Quds Committee", created by the Islamic Cooperation Organization to promote the preservation of the religious, cultural and urban heritage of the holy city.

Dates and almond milk

To welcome the pontiff to Rabat, the capital of a 99% Muslim country, buildings were painted, paved streets, landscaped gardens and reinforced security device. The pope was received at the foot of his plane by Mohamed VI, with dates and almond milk, as is the tradition.

Shortly after, Francisco and Mohamed VI were applauded on a large esplanade of Rabat, in two separate and perfectly parallel parades through decorated streets. It was raining along the way and the Pope arrived protected on board his Popemobile, while Mohamed VI was traveling in a convertible limousine, dressed in the traditional
Moroccan Jellaba.

Some 12,000 people welcomed them enthusiastically despite the rain. "It's a blessing to be here," Monique told AFP, a 22-year-old Guinean student who arrived from Fes by bus.

"The Pope's visit shows that we all live together, that the mix of cultures and religions is possible," added Pascal Pascalson, 23, from Cote d'Ivoire.

"Religious tolerance"

The pope then visited the Imams Training Institute, institution considered the spearhead of "moderate Islam" which defends the king and in which 1,300 students form a dozen countries, men and women .

Moroccan authorities, where Islam is a state religion, often point to the country's "religious tolerance," which allows foreign Christians and Jews to freely practice their religion.

However, in the case of Moroccans – who, if they do not belong to the Jewish community, are automatically considered Muslims – society disapproves of apostasy and the law condemns proselytizing.

Although the Penal Code does not explicitly mention the renunciation of Islam, those who are suspected of "shaking a Muslim's faith or converting him to another religion" may be tried.

The small minority of converts, who have long remained in the shadow, openly claim since 2017 that she is able to live her faith "without persecution" and "without discrimination".

Politics "humanist"

At the end of the day on Saturday, Francisco visited a group of migrants within the Catholic Charity Association Cáritas, which runs reception centers intended to help those who are trying to reach l & # 39; Europe.

"Everyone has a right to a future," said the Argentine pontiff at the shelter. "The forms of collective expulsion (…) should not be accepted," he added.

The route through Morocco towards Spain has become in recent years the main route taken by migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, mainly due to the closure of the Libyan highway.

Morocco calls for a "humanist" policy focused on the regularization of migrants and rejects criticism from human rights defenders who have denounced these "months of campaigns" of "brutal detentions" and "forced displacements" of migrants in the south of the country.

The pope will dedicate the Sunday day to the small Catholic community of the country and complete his visit with the largest Catholic mbad ever held in Morocco, with the expected participation of 10,000 people.