Leaders of all religions pray together for peace at the General Audience: If we are united everything is possible

Pope Leo XIV called on the leaders of all religions present at the General Audience to “act together” to “alleviate human suffering,” care for the planet and “restore hope.”

“More than ever, our world needs our unity, our friendship and our collaboration. Each of our religions can contribute to alleviating human suffering and caring for our common home, our planet Earth,” the Pontiff assured before Jewish rabbis, Muslim imams, different Christian leaders, as well as representatives of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and Taoism, among others.

All of them participated this Tuesday in a solemn ceremony for peace organized by the Community of San Egidio and in the meeting in the Vatican for the 60 years of the document of the Second Vatican Council In our age.

The Pontiff has once again referred to this first text of the Church – published on October 28, 1965, during the Second Vatican Council – which marked a new stage in relations with the rest of religions and, in his words, “opened a new horizon of encounter, respect and spiritual hospitality.”

Followers of other religions, fellow travelers on the path of truth

This luminous document, the Holy Father continued, “teaches us to encounter the followers of other religions not as strangers, but as fellow travelers on the path of truth; to honor differences by affirming our common humanity; and to discern, in every sincere religious search, a reflection of the one divine Mystery that encompasses all creation.”

The Pope recognized that all traditions “teach truth, compassion, reconciliation, justice and peace” and called to reaffirm the service they provide to humanity, at all times.

“Together, we must be vigilant against the abuse of the name of God, of religion and of dialogue itself, as well as the dangers posed by religious fundamentalism and extremism,” he noted. He also called for addressing the responsible development of artificial intelligence, since, “if it is conceived as an alternative to the human being, it can seriously violate their infinite dignity and neutralize their fundamental responsibilities.”

The Holy Father insisted that religion can play a fundamental role in promoting peace and restoring hope to the world. “This hope is based on our religious convictions, on the conviction that a new world is possible. Sixty years ago, In our age He brought hope to the world emerging from World War II. Today we are called to refound that hope in our world devastated by war and in our degraded natural environment.”

“Let’s collaborate, because if we are united everything is possible. Let’s make sure nothing divides us.” he stated.

Pope Leo XIV thus dedicated the General Audience to interreligious dialogue and reflected on how the biblical episode of the Samaritan woman reveals its “essence.” “At the well of Sychar, Jesus overcomes the barriers of culture, gender and religion,” explained the Pope, who invited us to discover the presence of God beyond all borders and the invitation to seek him together with reverence and humility.

The Church does not tolerate anti-Semitism and fights it

Pope Leo XIV recalled the historical significance of the conciliar document that forever transformed the relationship of the Catholic Church with non-Christian religions, especially with the Jewish people.

For the first time in ecclesiastical history, he noted, the magisterium wanted to offer “a doctrinal treatise on the Jewish roots of Christianity,” intended to mark “a point of no return on the biblical and theological level.”

Leo

The Pontiff also wanted to recognize the fruit of six decades of Jewish-Catholic dialogue, although he acknowledged “that there have been misunderstandings, difficulties and conflicts.” “Today we must not allow political circumstances or the injustices of some to distance us from friendship, because so far we have achieved a lot,” he stated.

Finally, everyone participated in a moment of silent prayer. “Prayer has the power to transform our attitudes, our thoughts, our words and our actions,” concluded the Pontiff.