DISCORSO DEL
SANTO PADRE A CONCLUSIONE DELL'ASSEMBLEA INTERRELIGIOSA:
"ALLE SOGLIE DEL III MILLENNIO: COLLABORAZIONE FRA LE
DIVERSE RELIGIONI"
28/10/1999
Speech of Pope John Paul II at the conclusion of the
Interreligious Assembly:
"On the Eve of the Third Millennium: Collaboration Among the
Diverse Religions"
Distinguished Religious Representatives,
Dear Friends,
1. In the peace which the world cannot give, I greet all of you
gathered
here in Saint Peter's Square at the conclusion of the
Interreligious
Assembly which has been taking place during the last few days.
Throughout
the years of my Pontificate, and especially on my Pastoral Visits
to
different parts of the world, I have had the great joy of meeting
countless
other Christians and members of other religions. Today this joy
is renewed
here, close to the tomb of the Apostle Peter, whose ministry in
the Church
it is my task to continue. I rejoice in meeting you all, and give
thanks to
Almighty God who inspires our desire for mutual understanding and
friendship.
I am conscious of the fact that many esteemed religious leaders
have
travelled long distances to be present at this concluding
ceremony of the
Interreligious Assembly. I am grateful to all who have worked to
foster the
spirit which makes this Assembly possible. We have just listened
to the
Message which is the fruit of your deliberations.
2. I have always believed that religious leaders have a vital
role to play
in nurturing that hope of justice and peace without which there
will be no
future worthy of humanity. As the world marks the close of one
millennium
and the opening of another, it is right that we take time to look
back, in
order to take stock of the present situation and move forward
together in
hope towards the future.
As we survey the situation of humanity, is it too much to speak
of a crisis
of civilization? We see great technological advances, but these
are not
always accompanied by great spiritual and moral progress. We see
as well a
growing gap between the rich and poor - at the level of
individuals and of
nations. Many people make great sacrifices to show solidarity
with those
suffering want or hunger or disease, but there is still lacking
the
collective will to overcome scandalous inequalities and to create
new
structures which will enable all peoples to have a just share in
the
world's resources.
Then there are the many conflicts continually breaking out around
the
world - wars between nations, armed struggles within nations,
conflicts
that linger like festering wounds and cry out for a healing that
seems
never to come. Inevitably it is the weakest who suffer most in
these
conflicts, especially when they are uprooted from their homes and
forced to
flee.
3. Surely this is not the way humanity is supposed to live. Is it
not
therefore right to say that there is indeed a crisis of
civilization which
can be countered only by a new civilization of love, founded on
the
universal values of peace, solidarity, justice and liberty (cf.
Tertio
Millennio Adveniente, 52)?
There are some who claim that religion is part of the problem,
blocking
humanity's way to true peace and prosperity. As religious people,
it is our
duty to demonstrate that this is not the case. Any use of
religion to
support violence is an abuse of religion. Religion is not, and
must not
become a pretext for conflict, particularly when religious,
cultural and
ethnic identity coincide. Religion and peace go together: to wage
war in
the name of religion is a blatant contradiction (cf. Address to
the
Participants in the Sixth Assembly of the World Conference on
Religion and
Peace, 3 November 1994, 2). Religious leaders must clearly show
that they
are pledged to promote peace precisely because of their religious
belief.
The task before us therefore is to promote a culture of dialogue.
Individually and together, we must show how religious belief
inspires
peace, encourages solidarity, promotes justice and upholds
liberty.
But teaching itself is never enough, however indispensable it may
be. It
must be translated into action. My revered predecessor Pope Paul
VI noted
that in our time people pay more attention to witnesses than to
teachers,
that they listen to teachers if they are at the same time
witnesses (cf.
Evangelii Nuntiandi, 41). It suffices to think of the
unforgettable witness
of people like Mahatma Gandhi or Mother Teresa of Calcutta, to
mention but
two figures who have had such an impact on the world.
4. Moreover, the strength of witness lies in the fact that it is
shared. It
is a sign of hope that in many parts of the world interreligious
associations have been established to promote joint reflection
and action.
In some places, religious leaders have been instrumental in
mediating
between warring parties. Elsewhere common cause is made to
protect the
unborn, to uphold the rights of women and children, and to defend
the
innocent. I am convinced that the increased interest in dialogue
between
religions is one of the signs of hope present in the last part of
this
century (cf. Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 46). Yet there is a
need to go
further. Greater mutual esteem and growing trust must lead to
still more
effective and coordinated common action on behalf of the human
family.
Our hope rises not merely from the capacities of the human heart
and mind,
but has a divine dimension which it is right to recognize. Those
of us who
are Christians believe that this hope is a gift of the Holy
Spirit, who
calls us to widen our horizons, to look beyond our own personal
needs and
the needs of our particular communities, to the unity of the
whole human
family. The teaching and example of Jesus Christ have given
Christians a
clear sense of the universal brotherhood of all people. Awareness
that the
Spirit of God works where he wills (cf. Jn 3:8) stops us from
making hasty
and dangerous judgements, because it evokes appreciation of what
lies
hidden in the hearts of others. This opens the way to
reconciliation,
harmony and peace. From this spiritual awareness spring
compassion and
generosity, humility and modesty, courage and perseverance. These
are
qualities that humanity needs more than ever as it moves into the
new
millennium.
5. As we gather here today, people from many nations representing
many of
the religions of the world, how can we fail to recall the meeting
in Assisi
thirteen years ago for the World Day of Prayer for Peace? Since
that time,
the "spirit of Assisi" has been kept alive through
various initiatives in
different parts of the world. Yesterday, those of you taking part
in the
Interreligious Assembly journeyed to Assisi on the anniversary of
that
memorable gathering in 1986. You went to claim once more the
spirit of that
meeting and to draw fresh inspiration from the figure of il
Poverello di
Dio, the humble and joyful Saint Francis of Assisi. Let me repeat
here what
I said at the end of that day of fasting and prayer:
"The very fact that we have come to Assisi from various
parts of the world
is in itself a sign of this common path which humanity is called
to tread.
Either we learn to walk together in peace and harmony, or we
drift apart
and ruin ourselves and others. We hope that this pilgrimage to
Assisi has
taught us anew to be aware of the common origin and common
destiny of
humanity. Let us see in it an anticipation of what God would like
the
developing history of humanity to be: a fraternal journey in
which we
accompany one another toward the transcendent goal which he sets
for us"
(Address at the Conclusion of the World Day of Prayer for Peace,
Assisi, 27
October 1986, 5).
Our gathering here today in Saint Peter's Square is another step
on that
journey. In all the many languages of prayer, let us ask the
Spirit of God
to enlighten us, guide us and give us strength so that, as men
and women
who take their inspiration from their religious beliefs, we may
work
together to build the future of humanity in harmony, justice,
peace and
love.