Letter From Muslim Leaders Deemed "Very Encouraging" By Vatican

Vatican City - Vatican officials described a letter from the Muslim community calling for peace between Christianity and Islam to be a "very encouraging sign" towards obtaining cooperation and co-existence between the two religions.

"This represents a very encouraging sign because it shows that good will and dialogue are capable of overcoming prejudices," the International Herald Tribune quoted Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, head of the Vatican's pontifical council for inter-religious dialogue.

The Cardinal also highlighted the "very interesting" fact that the letter bore the signatures of different Muslim sects.

"There are Sunnis, Shias, Ibadis and even the..Ismailian and Jaafari schools," remarked the Cardinal.

The letter, "A Common Word Between Us and You", was released last week, signed by 138 Muslim leaders and institutions. Through it, Muslim officials insisted that a major step towards world peace would be the amicable relationship between the two rival religions.

It also encouraged the development of a common ground between Christianity and Islam, and claimed the two religions "vie with each other only in righteousness and good works," urged the letter, The Christian Post reports.

Many Christian officials have praised the letter, calling it "unprecedented and historic" and, as Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams stated, an act of good will that deserved an equal response from the Christian community.

The letter is also seen as an attempt from the Muslim community to better the relationship with Christians, especially after the controversial 2006 remark by Pope Benedict about the violent nature of Muslims - an act that angered followers of Islam.