Rev. Paul R. Fisher Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer, Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, conveyed his sentiments to Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.  He wrote to the President of Ahmadiyya Community in Harrisburg, Akram Khalid:

On behalf of the Diocesan Administrator (sede vacante) and the entire Catholic community Diocese of Harrisburg, I wish to send you greetings and assure you of our prayers for your community, with whom we share a common trust in a most merciful God, at the conclusion of the month of Ramadan.  It is our hope and prayer for you that these days of fasting will bear much fruit in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and for the larger community of Central Pennsylvania.  I also wish to share with you the message of Pope Francis for the celebration of ‘Id al-Fitr.

The Ahmadiyya Community is thrilled to receive this message of love and affection.

Akram Khalid said that this message of hope and love is a great blessing of God and is an omen of good things to come.  It should lead to greater co-operation between the two communities, the Ahmadiyya and the Catholics in Harrisburg.

The community at large sees it as fulfillment of the vision of the Holy Quran about the Christians and the Muslims:

And thou shalt assuredly find those who say, ‘We are Christians,’ to be the nearest of them in love to the believers. That is because amongst them are savants and monks and because they are not proud.  (Al Quran 5:83)

The vaulted dome on the state capitol in Harrisburg weighs 52 million pounds and was modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. (Courtesy of Terry Way/Commonwealth Media Services)