Pope cautioned against "renouncing presenting to interlocutors the Christian proposal."

VATICAN CITY, May 16, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Pope Benedict XVI said on Monday, May 15, that reciprocity is the cornerstone of a successful dialogue with Islam.

"The importance of reciprocity in dialogue is more and more evident," the pontiff told a Vatican conference on immigration to and from Islamic countries, according to the Italian news agency (AGI).

He said Christian minorities in Muslim countries should be given the same rights Muslims generally have in Western countries.

Pope Benedict hoped that "Christians who emigrate to countries with a Muslim majority find welcome and respect for their religious identity" without naming any countries.

The one-day conference was called to address the Church's growing concern over the number of Muslim immigrants in Europe and how to ensure peaceful coexistence of Christians and Muslims in countries with an Islamic tradition, according to Italy's ANSA news agency.

Islam guarantees the People of the Book (Christians and Jews) the same basic rights enjoyed by Muslims, chiefly freedom of religion.

"Christian Proposal"

Pope Benedict said that "religious problems" faced by some Christians should not stand as an obstacle to present the "Christian proposal" to the world.

"We are living in times in which Christians are called to cultivate a method of open dialogue on religious problems, not renouncing presenting to interlocutors the Christian proposal in coherence with their own identity," he said.

This was a reference to the Church's position that, even without aiming to convert, Christians had a duty to spread the gospel message and proclaim the word of Jesus to all, according to Reuters.

The Pope said the question "deserves particular reflection, not only because of its extent but also because of the religious and cultural characteristics of the Muslim identity."

"Individual believers are called to open their arms and their hearts to each person, whatever country they are from, leaving it to the authorities responsible for public life to establish the laws held opportune for healthy cohabitation."

The pontiff said Christians "must open their hearts particularly to the small and poor."

Protestant and Orthodox churches are spearheading a drive with the Vatican to forge a code of conduct on religious conversion and proselytism.

The initiative is aimed at addressing long-standing concerns about how far religions around the world can go to seek out new faithful.

Several press reports have warned that missionary work in poor Muslim provinces basically in Africa and Asia is taking place under the guise of aid relief.