Nostra Aetate at 60: Leo XIV warns that politics and injustice must not divert religions from friendship
The pope devoted today’s general audience to mark the anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on the Church's Relations with non-Christian Religions, which is “called to rekindle [. . .] hope in our world, devastated by war”. The pontiff urged religious leaders and representatives gathered in front of St Peter's to “act together” since the “world needs our unity." The "martyrs of dialogue" were remembered last night in the Paul VI Hall.
Città del Vaticano (AsiaNews) – Pope Leo XIV dedicated his address at today's general audience to 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate (In Our Time), the Declaration on the Church's Relation to non-Christian Religions.
“Sixty years ago,” the pontiff said, “Nostra Aetate brought hope to the world after the Second World War. Today we are called upon to rekindle that hope in our world, devastated by war and our degraded natural environment.”
Two eras and two different worlds, but both thirsting for hope, which requires care, patience, and renewal.
Last night, Leo took part in “Walking Together in Hope”, a special event held in the Paul VI Hall, to underscore the importance of interreligious dialogue for the Catholic Church.
Today, in St Peter's Square, in front of thousands of faithful and numerous representatives of different religious traditions, Leo said that dialogue is “an exchange that is established when people open up to one another with sincerity, attentive listening and mutual enrichment.”
The “very core of interreligious dialogue,” which stems from the shared thirst for God, is “the discovery of God’s presence beyond all boundaries and the invitation to seek him together with reverence and humility.”
What the Second Vatican Council sought to highlight with this "luminous document", the Pope said, “opened up a new horizon of encounter, respect and spiritual hospitality.” In particular, the lesson from Nostra Aetate is to "meet the followers of other religions not as outsiders, but as travelling companions on the path of truth," the pontiff added.
The document's "first focus" was towards the Jewish world, motivated by the "original relationship" that Christianity has with it, as Saint John XXIII stressed. Thus, the Church, we read in Nostra Aetate, “decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone”.
These words remain extremely timely. “I too confirm that the Church does not tolerate anti-Semitism and fights against it, on the basis of the Gospel itself,” said Leo XIV, for whom. The Jewish-Catholic dialogue that followed the Second Vatican Council should be looked upon with "gratitude”.
Although marked by "misunderstandings, difficulties, and conflicts," it never ceased. And “Even today, we must not allow political circumstances and the injustices of some to divert us from friendship, especially since we have achieved so much so far,” he added, eliciting an applause from the square.
Nostra Aetate “continues to illuminate the path of the Church”; offering a dialogue that is never “solely intellectual, but profoundly spiritual.” What is more, interfaith dialogue at present, “in practically every city” is “due to human mobility”; for this reason, “our spiritual and cultural differences are called to encounter one another and to live together fraternally”
Ultimately, Nostra Aetate “is rooted in love, the only foundation of peace, justice and reconciliation”, which, according to the pope, calls for shared responsibility. “The answer is simple: we can act together. More than ever, our world needs our unity, our friendship”.
To this end, “Together, we must be vigilant against the abuse of the name of God, of religion, and of dialogue itself, as well as against the dangers posed by religious fundamentalism and extremism.”
At the commemoration for the 60th anniversary yesterday evening in the Nervi Hall, the pontiff expressed “joy and deep gratitude,” remembering the men and women who since 1965 have “labored to being Nostra Aetate to life.”
“Some even gave their lives — martyrs for dialogue, who stood against violence and hatred,” he said.
Pope Leo reminded the leaders and representatives of the world's religions that Pope Francis's death highlighted the "esteem" and "friendship" towards the Catholic Church, renewed at the very moment of his election.
Leo XIV also expressed his thoughts about some of the teachings of Nostra Aetate. First, the conciliar document notes that "humanity is drawing closer together" and that "we belong to one human family."
It also emphasises the attempt of religions to respond to "the restlessness of the human heart”, while acknowledging that the Catholic Church "rejects nothing that is true and holy" in other religions.
The pope also spoke about its origins. Nostra Aetate was born, as indicated, as a treatise on a “new relationship between the Catholic Church and Judaism," Leo explained.
Pope Leo XIV's address at the "Walking Together in Hope" event was preceded by a procession with leaders of various religions, including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shintoism, and traditional African religions.
Preceded by a traditional Kandyan dance from Sri Lanka, the audience of some 2,000 people was welcomed by Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, and Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. A series of artistic performances from various countries, including Indonesia, followed.
Various notable speakers spoke. One was Master Hsin Tao. Born in Myanmar, he founded the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist monastery and the Museum of World Religions in Yonghe, New Taipei, Taiwan. Another one was Sarah Bernstein, executive director of the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue in Jerusalem. Via video link, the young people who landed from the ship Bel Espoir in Ostia, Italy, on 17 October, which Leo XIV visited. They shared their experience of sailing for peace as part of the “Bel Espoir–MED25 project.
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07/11/2005
