By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
A Muslim government official involved in a peace process with the Philippines’ one-time largest rebel group has hailed the visit of Pope Francis to the country, stating that it could not be occurring at a more opportune time.
"He [Pope Francis] comes to us at a time when we Filipinos -- despite our differences in religious beliefs and backgrounds -- stand together in a common goal for our nation and for one another," said Jose "Yusuf" Lorena in a statement Tuesday.
In March 2014, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front inked a peace deal with the government which brings to an end 17 years of negotiations and a decades-old armed conflict in Mindanao, the country’s second largest island, while granting Muslims greater political autonomy.
The front, known as the MILF, is still to hand over 75 heavy machine guns, rocket launchers, mortars and assault rifles to an international decommissioning body.
Yusuf said that the Pope's visit would strengthen Filipinos’ commitment to seeing the peace process through by supporting the Bangsamoro Basic Law - the catalyst to finally establishing lasting peace in the southern area of Mindanao.
The pontiff's Jan. 15-19 itinerary is predominantly based around the capital Manila and Tacloban City in the central islands, where he is scheduled to meet survivors of super-typhoon Yolanda that pummeled Eastern Visayas in 2013.
MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim is reported, however, to have written to the Pope, the letter sent through Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, asking him to include Cotabato City in the south during his visit.
Although the trip to Cotabato is not expected to take place, Ebrahim is also understood to have asked the Pope to address a few words to the Bangsamoro people and endorse the Mindanao peace process.
In his praise of the Pope, Lorena recalled that his visit to the Kingdom of Jordan highlighted that "he is one who respects the Islamic faith... as the country has roots to the Prophet Mohammed," and underlined the Pope's visit Turkey - where he prayed at Istanbul's famous Blue Mosque - as demonstrating a gesture that shows respect to Islam and builds bridges with the Muslim world.
"Since his ascent to papacy, His Holiness embarked on a journey to reach out to the leaders and peoples of different religions and strengthen interfaith dialogue," he added.
"Such endeavors as well as his pronouncements that differentiate Muslims from 'terrorists' show that he is one who looks beyond religion. This is something we can all learn from, that, in order to achieve peace, one must look beyond religion, beyond race, beyond gender, beyond any difference, and focus on what makes us similar."
Lorena stated that "underneath our differences, we are all the same."
"Tama na ang gyera [war is enough]," he concluded in Tagalog (Filipino). "Let us unite and be brothers and sisters for peace."
On Saturday, Police Supt. Ebra Moxsir, the Imam Council of the Philippines’ president, said that the visit of Pope Francis would bring a promise of unity to a country divided by faith as the Pope is bringing universal peace.
Philippines media quoted Moxsir - one of 10 religious leaders scheduled to meet with the Pope - as saying that “the Filipino Muslim community is supporting his [Pope Francis’] advocacy, particularly his desire for the Catholics and Muslims to have a symbiotic relation."
“Pope Francis is promoting peace. My Muslim brothers and sisters support peace because Islam means peace,” he added.
