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Saint Vincent de Paul
Roman Catholic Church
979 Avenue C -
Bayonne, New Jersey 07002
(201) 436-2222 Fax:(201) 437-5235
Founded 1894
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[Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults] [Pope Benedict XVI]
 Pope
Benedict XVI
Apostolic
Journey to the United States
April 15 - 20, 2008
Here is the prepared text as released by
the Vatican of Pope Benedict’s message to representatives of other
religions:
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! |