Pope Francis calls for “mutual respect” to mark Muslim Eid

Pope Francis reached out to Muslims in a speech on Sunday marking the end of Ramadan.

The message calling for mutual respect between the two religious communities was the Pope's second in recent weeks.

"I want to send a hello to Muslims around the world, our brothers, who a short time ago celebrated the conclusion of the month of Ramadan," he said during his Angelus blessing in St. Peter's Square.

"I hope that Christians and Muslims engage to promote mutual respect, especially through the education of new generations," he said.

He also said that Christians and Muslims should avoid defaming each other.

On August 2, the Pope reached out to Muslims and their religious leaders with another message of mutual respect: “We have to bring up our young people to think and speak respectfully of other religions and their followers,” he said.

Pope Francis has been careful to improve the Vatican's relations with the Muslim world.

In 2006, Pope Benedict stirred controversy when he referred to an obscure Islamic text as "evil and inhuman."

The words sparked violence and protests across Muslim countries.