Pope: ‘We must be forthright in interfaith dialogue’

Inter-religious dialogue must be grounded in a “full and forthright presentation” of different faiths’ respective convictions, Pope Francis has said.

 

The Pope made the comments during a meeting at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall during the first day of his papal visit to South Asia. Francis was greeted at the hall by members of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and and Christian communities.

 

Pope Francis said: “As experience has shown for (inter-religious) 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.

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