During his General Audience, Pope Francis recalled his recent Apostolic Journey to Bahrain.
He urged audience members to engage in dialogue and to look past their differences with others. He went on to recount his own inter-religious dialogue on coexistence from his time abroad.
The Pope concluded by blessing the English-speakers in attendance of the Catechesis.
POPE FRANCIS
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
My recent Apostolic Journey to Bahrain was occasioned by the international Forum for
Dialogue, which brought together leaders of different religions in the service of peace. Dialogue is in fact “the oxygen of peace”, opening minds and hearts to encounter and breaking down the walls of violence and division. In our world, torn by war and conflict, religious and civil leaders, and all persons of good will, are challenged to look beyond narrow interests and to seek the unity and peace of the entire human family.
My visit to Bahrain, a predominantly Muslim country, was yet another step in the promising journey of dialogue, encounter and fraternal cooperation between Christians and Muslims. In those days, I was also able to join Christian leaders in a choral prayer for peace and to celebrate Holy Mass with the Catholic community of Bahrain and the greater Gulf region. May the prayers of Our Lady of Arabia confirm them in their joyful witness of faith and help all believers to persevere on the path to peace, understanding and fraternal coexistence.
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims taking part in today’s Audience, especially those from Denmark, Finland, Canada and the United States of America. Upon all of you I invoke the joy and peace of Christ our Lord. God bless you!
MG
