On his first full day in Bahrain, Pope Francis received a grand welcome on his way to Al-Fida' Square at the Sakhir Royal Palace to close the “Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence.”
Together with the King of Bahrain and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, the Pope visited the garden for the Tree of Peace.
During his speech, Pope Francis proposed three challenges to help connect people worldwide—prayer, eduation, and action. He said prayer removes selfishness and injustice, education breaks down barriers and action is necessary to build fraternity.
POPE FRANCIS
It is true, where there is a lack of educational opportunities extremism and entrenched fundamentalisms increase. And, if ignorance is the enemy of peace, education is the friend of development.
Pope Francis emphasized the importance of not sailing alone on this journey of fraternity. He called religious leaders to come together to find true peace.
POPE FRANCIS
It is not enough to say that a religion is peaceful, it is necessary to condemn and isolate the violent people who abuse its name. Nor is it enough to distance oneself from intolerance and extremism, it is necessary to act in the opposite direction.
The Pope explained this also means opposing and not funding arms development and the business of war. He also remembered Ukraine in this moment as an example of caring for one's neighbor. He called for all present to be on the side of the needy, migrants, and poor.
POPE FRANCIS
Let us therefore come together for the sake of man and in the name of the One who loves man, whose Name is Peace. Let us promote concrete initiatives so that the path of the great religions be more and more proactive and constant, be conscience of peace for the world!
Delegations from about 60 countries participated in the Bahrain Forum on dialogue, including people from Uganda, the United States, and Italy.
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