Pope urges religious leaders to be free from politics, say ‘no’ to war and ‘yes’ to peace
Leo XIV met in audience with ecumenical delegations and representatives of other faiths who had come to Rome for the beginning of his ministry. Before the meeting, he held a private audience with the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew. In his address, he noted that his election falls on the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. For Christians, “unity can only be unity in faith,” he said. Turning to Jews, he noted that “in these difficult times, marked by conflicts and misunderstandings, it is necessary to continue the momentum of this precious dialogue of ours.”
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Leo XIV today addressed the representatives of other Churches and Ecclesial Communities as well as other religions, who attended the Mass at the Vatican yesterday to mark the solemn beginning of his pontificate.
“I am convinced,” he said, “ that if we are in agreement, and free from ideological and political conditioning, we can be effective in saying ‘no’ to war and ‘yes’ to peace, ‘no’ to the arms race and ‘yes’ to disarmament, ‘no’ to an economy that impoverishes peoples and the Earth and ‘yes’ to integral development.”
The meeting in the Clementine Hall provided the pope with an opportunity to underline "the contribution of wisdom, compassion and commitment to the good of humanity and the preservation of the common home" that each community can offer.
The pontiff began his address by greeting first the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew (with whom he met privately before the audience), the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, and the Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III, the three Church leaders who chose to participate in person in the installation of the bishop of Rome. “I am deeply grateful for your presence and prayers, which are a great comfort and encouragement,” he said.
Leo XIV emphasised the legacy of Pope Francis’s ecumenical journey through interpersonal relations with other religious leaders, developed “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!”
Stressing the coincidence between his election and the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, the pontiff noted its crucial importance for the elaboration of the Creed shared by all the Churches and Ecclesial Communities.
“While we are on the journey to re-establishing full communion among all Christians, we recognise that this unity can only be unity in faith. As Bishop of Rome, I consider one of my priorities to be that of seeking the re-establishment of full and visible communion among all those who profess the same faith in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
The pope also dwelt on the close link between synodality and ecumenism. “I would like to assure you of my intention to continue Pope Francis’ commitment to promoting the synodal nature of the Catholic Church and developing new and concrete forms for an ever stronger synodality in ecumenical relations.”
The Holy Father also expressed gratitude for the presence of representatives of “other religious traditions, who share the search for God and his will, which is always and only the will of love and life for men and women and for all creatures.”
Leo XIV reserved a special word to “our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters,” mentioning the document on human fraternity, signed in Abu Dhabi in 2019 by Pope Francis and al Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed al Tayyeb,
Citing the conciliar declaration Nostra Aetate on the greatness of the spiritual heritage common to Christians and Jews, he said that the theological dialogue with the Jewish world was “close to my heart. Even in these difficult times, marked by conflicts and misunderstandings, it is necessary to continue the momentum of this precious dialogue of ours.”
Regarding relations with Muslims, he said that an approach “based on mutual respect and freedom of conscience [. . .] is a solid foundation for building bridges between our communities.”
In concluding, he told all those present that, “The witness of our fraternity, which I hope we will be able to show with effective gestures, will certainly contribute to building a more peaceful world, something that all men and women of good will desire in their hearts.”
“Let us ask for God’s blessing in our hearts: may his infinite goodness and wisdom help us to live as his children and as brothers and sisters to each other, so that hope may grow in the world. I offer you my heartfelt gratitude.”
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