Around one thousand representatives of the various religious communities
(Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and various Christian confessions) awaited Pope
Francis in the Great Hall of the BMICH. The meeting began with the Buddhist
chant "Pirith", followed by a Hindu blessing, a Muslim blessing and a prayer
by the ecumenical group.
 Following a speech by the Buddhist monk Vigithasiri Niyangoda Thero, the Holy
Father gave an address in which he affirmed the Church's profound and lasting
respect for other religions, and reiterated that, for the sake of peace,
religious beliefs must never be abused to justify violence and war.
 "I have come to Sri Lanka in the footsteps of my predecessors Popes Paul VI
and John Paul II to demonstrate the great love and concern which the Catholic
Church has for Sri Lanka. It is a particular grace for me to visit the
Catholic community here, to confirm them in their Christian faith, to pray
with them and to share their joys and sufferings. It is equally a grace to be
with all of you, men and women of these great religious traditions, who share
with us a desire for wisdom, truth and holiness.
 "At Vatican Council II, the Catholic Church declared her deep and abiding
respect for other religions. She stated that she 'rejects nothing of what is
true and holy in these religions. She has a high regard for their manner of
life and conduct, their precepts and doctrines'. For my part, I wish to
reaffirm the Church's sincere respect for you, your traditions and beliefs".
 He continued, "It is in this spirit of respect that the Catholic Church
desires to cooperate with you, and with all people of good will, in seeking
the welfare of all Sri Lankans. I hope that my visit will help to encourage
and deepen the various forms of interreligious and ecumenical cooperation
which have been undertaken in recent years.
 "These praiseworthy initiatives have provided opportunities for dialogue,
which is essential if we are to know, understand and respect one another. But,
as experience has shown, for such dialogue and encounter to be effective, it
must be grounded in a full and forthright presentation of our respective
convictions. Certainly, such dialogue will accentuate how varied our beliefs,
traditions and practices are. But if we are honest in presenting our
convictions, we will be able to see more clearly what we hold in common. New
avenues will be opened for mutual esteem, cooperation and indeed friendship.
 "Such positive developments in interreligious and ecumenical relations take
on a particular significance and urgency in Sri Lanka. For too many years the
men and women of this country have been victims of civil strife and violence.
What is needed now is healing and unity, not further conflict and division.
Surely the fostering of healing and unity is a noble task which is incumbent
upon all who have at heart the good of the nation, and indeed the whole human
family. It is my hope that interreligious and ecumenical cooperation will
demonstrate that men and women do not have to forsake their identity, whether
ethnic or religious, in order to live in harmony with their brothers and
sisters.
 "How many ways there are for the followers of the different religions to
carry out this service! How many are the needs that must be tended to with the
healing balm of fraternal solidarity! I think in particular of the material
and spiritual needs of the poor, the destitute, those who yearn for a word of
consolation and hope. Here I think too of the many families who continue to
mourn the loss of their loved ones.
 "Above all, at this moment of your nation's history, how many people of good
will are seeking to rebuild the moral foundations of society as a whole? May
the growing spirit of cooperation between the leaders of the various religious
communities find expression in a commitment to put reconciliation among all
Sri Lankans at the heart of every effort to renew society and its
institutions. For the sake of peace, religious beliefs must never be allowed
to be abused in the cause of violence and war. We must be clear and
unequivocal in challenging our communities to live fully the tenets of peace
and coexistence found in each religion, and to denounce acts of violence when
they are committed.
 "Dear friends", concluded the Pope, "I thank you once again for your generous
welcome and your attention. May this fraternal encounter confirm all of us in
our efforts to live in harmony and to spread the blessings of peace".

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 Pope's greetings to the presidents of Doctrinal Commissions of the European
Episcopal Conferences
 Vatican City, 13 January 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a message to
greet the participants in the meeting of the presidents of the Doctrinal
Commissions of the European Episcopal Conferences with the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith in Esztergom, "the religious heart of Hungary". The
text was read this morning, during the opening session of the meeting, which
will be held from 13 to 15 January.
 "I thank Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, for this timely initiative that emphasises the
importance of the local Episcopates, and in particular the Doctrinal
Commissions, in their responsibility for the unity and integrity of the faith
as well as its transmission to the younger generations. As I wrote in my
Apostolic Exhortation 'Evangelii Gaudium', resuming the teaching of the
dogmatic Constitution 'Lumen Gentium' of Vatican Council II, 'Episcopal
conferences are in a position to contribute in many and fruitful ways to the
concrete realisation of the collegial spirit'. I hope that your meeting will
contribute to enabling a collegial approach to various doctrinal and pastoral
difficulties that present themselves in Europe today, with the aim of
inspiring in the faithful a new missionary zeal and greater openness to the
transcendent dimension of life, without which Europe risks losing the very
'humanistic spirit' that it loves and defends.
 "I commend your works to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary, model
for every believer, and impart my heartfelt blessing".

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