VATICAN CITY (CNS) \u2014 During a special audience with religious leaders who came to Rome for the inauguration of his papal ministry, Pope Leo XIV vowed to continue working toward Christian unity and promoting dialogue among all religions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow is the time for dialogue and building bridges,\u201d the pope said 19 May as he met with the leaders in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His guests included Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and Catholicos Awa III, patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, as well as Anglican, Methodist and Lutheran leaders. Representatives of the Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain communities also attended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs bishop of Rome,\u201d Pope Leo told them, \u201cI consider one of my priorities to be that of seeking the reestablishment of full and visible communion among all those who profess the same faith in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Full Christian unity must be based on unity in faith, he said, noting how his election took place in the year that Christians are celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, which \u201crepresents a milestone in the formulation of the Creed shared by all churches and ecclesial communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The late Pope Francis had been planning to travel to Iznik, Turkey, site of the ancient city of Nicaea, to commemorate the anniversary with Patriarch Bartholomew. A Vatican official said planning is underway for Pope Leo to make the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnity has always been a constant concern of mine,\u201d the new pope told his guests, pointing to the motto he chose when he became a bishop in 2014: \u201c\u2018In Illo uno unum,\u2019 an expression of St. Augustine of Hippo that reminds us how we, too, although we are many, \u2018in the One \u2014 that is Christ \u2014 we are one.’\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Leo told the Christian leaders that \u201cthe more faithful and obedient we are\u201d to Jesus, \u201cthe more united we are among ourselves. We Christians, then, are all called to pray and work together to reach this goal, step by step, which is and remains the work of the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAware, moreover, that synodality and ecumenism are closely linked, I would like to assure you of my intention to continue Pope Francis\u2019 commitment to promoting the synodal nature of the Catholic Church and developing new and concrete forms for an ever stronger synodality in ecumenical relations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Francis and many ecumenical leaders focused on how synodality \u2014 literally \u201cwalking together,\u201d listening to one another and valuing the gifts and talents of all \u2014 could help Christians see how much they have in common and how they must work together to bring the Gospel to world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Leo also praised Pope Francis\u2019 emphasis on how, since everyone is a child of God, they are brothers and sisters to each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe witness of our fraternity, which I hope we will be able to show with effective gestures, will certainly contribute to building a more peaceful world, something that all men and women of goodwill desire in their hearts,\u201d the pope told the religious leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn a world wounded by violence and conflict,\u201d he said, \u201ceach of the communities represented here brings its own contribution of wisdom, compassion and commitment to the good of humanity and the preservation of our common home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together \u201cand free from ideological and political conditioning,\u201d he said, \u201cwe can be effective in saying \u2018no\u2019 to war and \u2018yes\u2019 to peace, \u2018no\u2019 to the arms race and \u2018yes\u2019 to disarmament, \u2018no\u2019 to an economy that impoverishes peoples and the Earth and \u2018yes\u2019 to integral development.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Leo had special words of gratitude for the Jewish and Muslim representatives and pledged to continue the dialogue that began with their communities 60 years ago with the publication of the Second Vatican Council\u2019s document, \u201cNostra Aetate,\u201d on relations with other religions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The document, the pope said, \u201cemphasizes the greatness of the spiritual heritage shared by Christians and Jews, encouraging mutual knowledge and esteem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe theological dialogue between Christians and Jews remains ever important and close to my heart,\u201d he said. \u201cEven in these difficult times, marked by conflicts and misunderstandings, it is necessary to continue the momentum of this precious dialogue of ours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The \u201cgrowing commitment to dialogue and fraternity\u201d between Christians and Muslims also is important, he said. The dialogue, \u201cbased on mutual respect and freedom of conscience, is a solid foundation for building bridges between our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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