In its recent traditional annual message on Ramadan, the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue in the Vatican underscored the need to work together toward overcoming poverty. The message was an “occasion of cordial encounter in many countries” between Christians and Muslims because it “addresses a matter of shared concern” and thereby makes it “conducive to a confident and open exchange.”

Recognizing the humiliating effect of and intolerable sufferings engendered by economic and other forms of privation, the theme of this year’s message was “Christians and Muslims:

Together in Overcoming Poverty.” Poverty alienates and causes people to harbor resentment toward others, a feeling that eventually leads to hostile actions. At times it is used as an excuse to justify seizing another person’s material possessions, even to the point of undermining peaceful relationships and the person’s security. In view of these, it has become imperative to confront “the phenomena of extremism and violence” by tackling the social and global problem of poverty “through the promotion of integral human development” which Pope Paul VI had defined as the “new name of peace.”

Pope Benedict XVI distinguished between two types of privation – poverty that should be combated and poverty that should be embraced. The former is manifested in the widespread hunger, lack of clean water for drinking and sanitation, limited medical care and inadequate shelter, insufficient and inefficient educational and cultural systems, illiteracy, and other new forms of poverty such as marginalization and affective moral and spiritual deprivation.

The latter refers to a life of simplicity that focuses on the essential, a lifestyle that shuns wastage, shows respect for the environment, and values the goodness of creation.

While it is true that sharing a commitment to eradicate the scourge of poverty is easier said than done, it does not mean it is impossible.

Regardless of the faith we espouse, we are urged to make a conscious effort to work together in harmony with all the peoples of the world to arrive at a just and durable solution to the social scourge that plagues billions of people worldwide. The end of the Month of Ramadan should not be seen as another challenge directed solely to our Muslim brothers and sisters to live the teachings of their faith. It is a challenge to everyone, regardless of faith affiliation, to nurture a culture of respect for diversity and infuse the seeds of trust and tolerance, especially among the young.

It is encouraging to note how a significant number of people have passed from tolerance to a meeting together through a common lived experience and real shared concerns, which are concrete steps toward a viable partnership for combating a problem that has reached global magnitude – poverty.