By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In his first video prayer message
of the year, Pope Francis asked
people to join him in praying that interreligious dialogue lead to
“peace and justice.”
The video message was part of a prayer initiative coordinated by the international Apostleship of Prayer, a
Jesuit-run outreach that has given Catholics the pope’s monthly prayer
intentions since 1890.
In the video, the pope called for dialogue among
religions and asked that
people “not stop praying for it and collaborating with those who
think differently.”
“Many think differently, feel differently, they seek
God or meet God in different ways. In this crowd, in this range of religions,
there is only one certainty we have for all: We are all children of God,”
the pope said.
Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim and Catholic religious leaders
were also featured in the video, first declaring their personal beliefs
followed by each one declaring: “I believe in love.”
“I hope you will spread my prayer request this
month,” the pope said. “That sincere dialogue among men and women of
different faiths may produce the fruits of peace and justice. I trust in your
prayers.”
Pope Francis will deliver his monthly prayer intentions
on video over social media in Spanish with subtitles in 10 languages throughout
the Holy Year of Mercy.
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Editors: The video can be viewed at https://thepopevideo.org/en/video/interreligious-dialogue.html.
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