Shafaqna English– Now is the time for dialogue and building bridges, Pope Leo XIV said in a meeting with the representatives of other faiths and other Churches.
Pope Leo XIV held a special audience on Monday (19 May 2025) for ecumenical and interreligious delegations that took part in the Solemn Mass for the Inauguration of his Petrine Ministry.
In his address, the Holy Father highlighted Pope Francis’ emphasis on universal fraternity, continuing the initiatives of previous popes, especially St John XXIII.
Pope Francis, “the Pope of Fratelli tutti, promoted both the ecumenical path and inter-religious dialogue,” Pope Leo said, “above all by cultivating interpersonal relations, in such a way that, without taking anything away from ecclesial bonds, the human trait of the encounter was always valued. May God help us to treasure his witness!”
Pope Leo XIV said our “common path” can and must be understood to involve everyone, “in a spirit of human fraternity.” Today, he said, “is the time for dialogue and building bridges.”
The Holy Father looked back again at his immediate predecessor, calling to mind “the remarkable efforts made by Pope Francis in favour of interreligious dialogue.”
The Pope went on to note “the growing commitment to dialogue and fraternity” that marks relations between the Catholic Church and Muslims, saying an approach based on “mutual respect and freedom of conscience” is “a solid basis for building bridges between our communities.”
Finally, addressing representatives of other traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and others, Pope Leo expressed gratitude for their contributions to peace “in a world wounded by violence and conflict.”
At the same time, he conveyed his hopes that, by working together, religious believers can help to say “no” to war, to the arms race, and to an unjust economy; and “yes” to peace, to disarmament, and to integral development.
Source: Vatican News