Here is the address Benedict XVI gave today to an interreligious
meeting at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center. The theme of
the meeting was "Peace Our Hope."
My dear friends,
I am pleased to have this occasion to meet with you today. I
thank Bishop Sklba for his words of welcome, and I cordially
greet all those in attendance representing various religions in
the United States of America. Several of you kindly accepted the
invitation to compose the reflections contained in today's
program. For your thoughtful words on how each of your
traditions bears witness to peace, I am particularly grateful.
Thank you all.
This country has a long history of cooperation between different
religions in many spheres of public life. Interreligious prayer
services during the national feast of Thanksgiving, joint
initiatives in charitable activities, a shared voice on
important public issues: these are some ways in which members of
different religions come together to enhance mutual
understanding and promote the common good. I encourage all
religious groups in America to persevere in their collaboration
and thus enrich public life with the spiritual values that
motivate your action in the world.
The place where we are now gathered was founded specifically for
promoting this type of collaboration. Indeed, the Pope John Paul
II Cultural Center seeks to offer a Christian voice to the
"human search for meaning and purpose in life" in a world of
"varied religious, ethnic and cultural communities" (Mission
Statement). This institution reminds us of this nation's
conviction that all people should be free to pursue happiness in
a way consonant with their nature as creatures endowed with
reason and free will.
Americans have always valued the ability to worship freely and
in accordance with their conscience. Alexis de Tocqueville, the
French historian and observer of American affairs, was
fascinated with this aspect of the nation. He remarked that this
is a country in which religion and freedom are "intimately
linked" in contributing to a stable democracy that fosters
social virtues and participation in the communal life of all its
citizens. In urban areas, it is common for individuals from
different cultural backgrounds and religions to engage with one
another daily in commercial, social and educational settings.
Today, in classrooms throughout the country, young Christians,
Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and indeed children of all
religions sit side-by-side, learning with one another and from
one another. This diversity gives rise to new challenges that
spark a deeper reflection on the core principles of a democratic
society. May others take heart from your experience, realizing
that a united society can indeed arise from a plurality of
peoples -- "E pluribus unum": "out of many, one" -- provided
that all recognize religious liberty as a basic civil right (cf.
Dignitatis Humanae, 2).
The task of upholding religious freedom is never completed. New
situations and challenges invite citizens and leaders to reflect
on how their decisions respect this basic human right.
Protecting religious freedom within the rule of law does not
guarantee that peoples -- particularly minorities -- will be
spared from unjust forms of discrimination and prejudice. This
requires constant effort on the part of all members of society
to ensure that citizens are afforded the opportunity to worship
peaceably and to pass on their religious heritage to their
children.
The transmission of religious traditions to succeeding
generations not only helps to preserve a heritage; it also
sustains and nourishes the surrounding culture in the present
day. The same holds true for dialogue between religions; both
the participants and society are enriched. As we grow in
understanding of one another, we see that we share an esteem for
ethical values, discernable to human reason, which are revered
by all peoples of goodwill. The world begs for a common witness
to these values. I therefore invite all religious people to view
dialogue not only as a means of enhancing mutual understanding,
but also as a way of serving society at large. By bearing
witness to those moral truths which they hold in common with all
men and women of goodwill, religious groups will exert a
positive influence on the wider culture, and inspire neighbors,
co-workers and fellow citizens to join in the task of
strengthening the ties of solidarity. In the words of President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt: "no greater thing could come to our
land today than a revival of the spirit of faith".
A concrete example of the contribution religious communities
make to civil society is faith-based schools. These institutions
enrich children both intellectually and spiritually. Led by
their teachers to discover the divinely bestowed dignity of each
human being, young people learn to respect the beliefs and
practices of others, thus enhancing a nation's civic life.
What an enormous responsibility religious leaders have: to imbue
society with a profound awe and respect for human life and
freedom; to ensure that human dignity is recognized and
cherished; to facilitate peace and justice; to teach children
what is right, good and reasonable!
There is a further point I wish to touch upon here. I have
noticed a growing interest among governments to sponsor programs
intended to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue.
These are praiseworthy initiatives. At the same time, religious
freedom, interreligious dialogue and faith-based education aim
at something more than a consensus regarding ways to implement
practical strategies for advancing peace. The broader purpose of
dialogue is to discover the truth. What is the origin and
destiny of mankind? What are good and evil? What awaits us at
the end of our earthly existence? Only by addressing these
deeper questions can we build a solid basis for the peace and
security of the human family, for "wherever and whenever men and
women are enlightened by the splendor of truth, they naturally
set out on the path of peace" (Message for the 2006 World Day of
Peace, 3).
We are living in an age when these questions are too often
marginalized. Yet they can never be erased from the human heart.
Throughout history, men and women have striven to articulate
their restlessness with this passing world. In the
Judeo-Christian tradition, the Psalms are full of such
expressions: "My spirit is overwhelmed within me" (Ps 143:4; cf.
Ps 6:6; 31:10; 32:3; 38:8; 77:3); "why are you cast down, my
soul, why groan within me?" (Ps 42:5). The response is always
one of faith: "Hope in God, I will praise him still; my Savior
and my God" (Ps 42:5, 11; cf. Ps 43:5; 62:5). Spiritual leaders
have a special duty, and we might say competence, to place the
deeper questions at the forefront of human consciousness, to
reawaken mankind to the mystery of human existence, and to make
space in a frenetic world for reflection and prayer.
Confronted with these deeper questions concerning the origin and
destiny of mankind, Christianity proposes Jesus of Nazareth. He,
we believe, is the eternal Logos who became flesh in order to
reconcile man to God and reveal the underlying reason of all
things. It is he whom we bring to the forum of interreligious
dialogue. The ardent desire to follow in his footsteps spurs
Christians to open their minds and hearts in dialogue (cf. Lk
10:25-37; Jn 4:7-26).
Dear friends, in our attempt to discover points of commonality,
perhaps we have shied away from the responsibility to discuss
our differences with calmness and clarity. While always uniting
our hearts and minds in the call for peace, we must also listen
attentively to the voice of truth. In this way, our dialogue
will not stop at identifying a common set of values, but go on
to probe their ultimate foundation. We have no reason to fear,
for the truth unveils for us the essential relationship between
the world and God. We are able to perceive that peace is a
"heavenly gift" that calls us to conform human history to the
divine order. Herein lies the "truth of peace" (cf. Message for
the 2006 World Day of Peace).
As we have seen then, the higher goal of interreligious dialogue
requires a clear exposition of our respective religious tenets.
In this regard, colleges, universities and study centers are
important forums for a candid exchange of religious ideas. The
Holy See, for its part, seeks to carry forward this important
work through the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue,
the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, and
various Pontifical Universities.
Dear friends, let our sincere dialogue and cooperation inspire
all people to ponder the deeper questions of their origin and
destiny. May the followers of all religions stand together in
defending and promoting life and religious freedom everywhere.
By giving ourselves generously to this sacred task -- through
dialogue and countless small acts of love, understanding and
compassion -- we can be instruments of peace for the whole human
family.
Peace upon you all!
© Copyright 2008 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Papal
Address to Interreligious Leaders