SW News: The Catholic Church is committed to following the path of fraternity with the conviction of the significance of interreligious dialogue and ecumenism. This was stressed by Pope Francis in Ulaanbaatar on Sunday, September 3 while addressing delegates of traditional religions and other Churches during an interreligious event.

Pope Francis said the faith of the Church is grounded in the “eternal dialogue between God and humanity that took flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. He added that the Church offers the “treasure she has received to every person and culture, in a spirit of openness and in respectful consideration of what the other religious traditions have to offer”.

The Holy Father cautioned that engaging in interreligious dialogue does not mean that it negates the need to proclaim. He said, “it does not gloss over differences, but helps us to understand them, to preserve them in their distinctness and to discuss them openly for the sake of mutual enrichment”. By doing so one can discover the common humanity which is important for this journey on earth.

The Roman Pontiff also reiterated the responsibility of followers of religions to foster greater peace and harmony in the world. "In this sense, dear brothers and sisters, we share a great responsibility, especially in this period of history, for we are called to testify to the teachings we profess by the way we act; we must not contradict them and thus become a cause of scandal." He also made it very clear that there can be no mixing of religion and violence, of holiness and oppression and religious traditions and sectarianism.

Citing the image of the traditional Mongolian ger or tent, which welcomes everyone without distinction, the pope said that various religious leaders assembling together is a sign that hope is possible. “Our coming together here today is a sign that hope is possible. In a world rent by conflict and discord, this may seem utopian, yet the greatest undertakings are hidden and almost imperceptible at the outset," the Pope said.

He said by raising their prayers to heaven, hope can be cultivated in everyone. He also sought mutual prayerful support among adherents of different religions so that their common efforts to foster dialogue and build a better world do not become a vain exercise. “May this gesture be a simple and credible testimony to our religiosity, our walking together with eyes lifted to heaven, our living in this world in harmony, as pilgrims called to preserve the atmosphere of a home that is open to all people," the pontiff said.

Pope Francis also paid glowing tribute to Mongolia’s patrimony of ancient wisdom and the manner in which it is adhering to its traditions despite the temptations of consumerism. He hailed the respect given to elders in Mongolian society and the utmost care shown towards the environment. He also repeatedly cited the image of the ger as an all-welcoming house where everyone sits together and builds bonds.

Sunday’s event was attended by representatives of Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Shintoism, Hinduism, Bahai faith and Shamanism. Also present were delegates from the Russian Orthodox Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Evangelical Church. Each delegate addressed the Holy Father and acknowledged his role in promoting greater understanding and world peace.