Pope Highlights Ecumenism, Dialogue with Non-Christians
POPE HIGHLIGHTS ECUMENISM, DIALOGUE WITH NON-CHRISTIANS
VATICAN CITY, APR 25, 2005 (VIS) - At 11 this morning in the Clementine
Hall, Pope Benedict XVI welcomed members of Christian Churches and
ecclesial
communities, as well as those of non-Christian religions who had come
to
Rome for the Mass yesterday to inaugurate his pontificate.
� In greeting the delegates of the Orthodox Churches, the Eastern
Orthodox
Churches and the ecclesial communities of the West, he noted how
"welcome"
their presence was both yesterday in St. Peter's and in the days of
mourning
for and the funeral of Pope John Paul II. He told them their tribute at
that
time "went well beyond a simple act of ecclesial courtesy. ... Your
participation in the mourning of the Catholic Church for his death
showed
how true and how great is the common passion for unity."
� "In greeting you, I would like to thank the Lord," said the Pope,
"Who has
blessed us with His mercy and has infused in us a sincere disposition
to
make His prayer - 'ut unum sint' - our prayer."
� Speaking French, Benedict XVI called this morning's meeting
"significant
as it permits the new bishop of Rome, pastor of the Catholic Church, to
repeat to you, with simplicity, 'Duc in altum' (Put out into the
deep)." He
added that he wished to "reaffirm the irreversible commitment"
undertaken at
Vatican Council II, and since then, to stay "on the path towards full
unity
desired by Jesus for His disciples. ... Your presence, dear brothers in
Christ, beyond what divides us and throws shadows over our full and
visible
communion, is a sign of sharing and support for the bishop of Rome, who
can
count on your support to follow" this path.
� "I turn now to you, dear friends from different religious
traditions,"
said the Holy Father in English, "and I thank you sincerely for your
presence at the solemn inauguration of my pontificate. ... I am
particularly
grateful for the presence in our midst of members of the Muslim
community,
and I express my appreciation for the growth of dialogue between
Muslims and
Christians, both at the local and international level. I assure you
that the
Church wants to continue building bridges of friendship with the
followers
of all religions, in order to seek the true good of every person and of
society as a whole.
� "The world in which we live is often marked by conflicts, violence
and
war, but it earnestly longs for peace, peace which is above all a gift
from
God, peace for which we must pray without ceasing. Yet peace is also a
duty
to which all peoples must be committed, especially those who profess to
belong to religious traditions.� Our efforts to come together and
foster
dialogue are a valuable contribution to building peace on solid
foundations."
� Benedict XVI concluded by inviting all present "to become together
artisans of peace, of a reciprocal commitment to understanding, respect
and
love."