When Pope Francis entered Paul VI Audience Hall, these Paraguayan pilgrims stopped him to give him chipa, a cheese-flavored bread roll. The pope seemed to like the treat.
Then he greeted many babies, and he stopped with several elders.
In his catechesis, he recalled the keys to his trip to the Arab Emirates, which he returned from on Tuesday afternoon.
The pope said while there, he prayed for the dialogue between Christianity and Islam to contribute to peace in today's world. He remembered the important document signed with the spiritual leader of the Sunni Muslims.
POPE FRANCIS
'We signed the Document on Human Fraternity. Together we affirm the common vocation of all men and women to be siblings, as sons and daughters of God. We condemn all forms of violence, especially when presented with religious motives. We are committed to spreading authentic values and peace throughout the world.'
Pope Francis asked Catholics to read and reflect on the document. It will help in understanding that although Christians and Muslims are different, they share values. These are respect for life, family, the elderly, education of young people and religious importance.
POPE FRANCIS
'In a time like ours - given the strong temptation to see a confrontation between Christian and Islamic civilizations, and to consider religions as sources of conflict - we wanted to give another clear and decisive signal that encounter, respect and dialogue is possible.'
At the end of the General Audience, the pope asked for prayers for the 28 people who died this weekend during a shipwreck in the Bahamas. It was a boat with migrants from Haiti.
