By John Thavis
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Vatican and Muslim representatives are set to open a new chapter of dialogue in an encounter that is expected to touch on common spiritual principles and perspectives on human rights.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran is president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. CNS PHOTO/DANIELE COLARIETI

It will be the first meeting of the Catholic-Muslim Forum, formed in the wake of widespread Muslim indignation over Pope Benedict XVI’s speech in Regensburg, Germany, in 2006.

The Nov. 4-5 sessions at the Vatican will take place behind closed doors, followed by a public session Nov. 6 with a few representatives from each side. Both delegations include women scholars.

The pope is expected to address the approximately 50 participants at some point in their discussions.

While no official agenda has been published, the theme of the talks is “Love of God, Love of Neighbor,” and the sessions are expected to focus on two areas: 1) the theological and spiritual foundations of Christian and Muslim teachings on love and charity, a topic that points toward broad areas of agreement and perhaps practical cooperation; 2) human dignity and mutual respect, an area that may allow the Vatican to press its concerns about human rights and the treatment of minority Christian communities in Muslim countries, including Iraq.

To date, the Vatican has said little about the upcoming meeting, and there seems to be a deliberate attempt not to raise expectations or to portray this dialogue session as the defining moment in Catholic-Muslim relations.

The fundamental text for the Catholic side remains “Nostra Aetate,” the Second Vatican Council’s 1965 declaration on relations with non-Christians.

Muslim participants involved in preparing the meeting have said it’s important that this new forum not focus on political issues or end up debating a “list of grievances” on both sides. Instead, they have expressed hope that the dialogue can counter misperceptions of the Islamic world in the West.

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