Pope Leo meets with leaders of Christian churches, other faiths

Pope Leo XIV greets Buddhist monks who present him with gifts during a meeting with religious leaders at the Vatican on May 19, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
At a private audience with faith leaders who attended his inauguration Mass last weekend, Pope Leo stated his desire to continue the Church’s “ecumenical journey and interreligious dialogue” following the legacy of his predecessors St John XXIII and Pope Francis.
“Synodality and ecumenism are closely linked,” he said at the May 19 audience. “I wish to assure you of my intention to continue Pope Francis’ commitment to promoting the synodal character of the Catholic Church and to developing new and concrete forms for an ever more intense synodality in the ecumenical field.
“Today is the time for dialogue and for building bridges,” he added. “Therefore, I am happy and grateful for the presence of the representatives of other religious traditions, who share the search for God and his will, which is always and only the will of love and life for men and women and for all creatures.”
Expressing his particular fraternal affection for the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and Assyrian Patriarch Mar Awa III in the meeting, Leo XIV highlighted the need for Christian unity in light of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea on May 20.
“That Council represents a fundamental stage in the development of the Creed shared by all the churches and ecclesial communities,” the Holy Father said. “While we are on the path towards the reestablishment of full communion among all Christians, we recognise that this unity can only be unity in faith.
“As bishop of Rome, I consider one of my primary duties to seek the reestablishment of full and visible communion among all those who profess the same faith in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” he added.
During the audience, Pope Leo reiterated the importance of a dialogue and fraternity – founded upon the shared belief in one God – with Jews and Muslims in order to achieve peace.
“Even in these difficult times, marked by conflicts and misunderstandings, it is necessary to continue with enthusiasm this very precious dialogue of ours,” he said.
Toward the end of the audience, the Pontiff reiterated his calls for peace and the need for leaders of all faith traditions to be united, “through the testimony of our brotherhood”, for the good of humanity.
FULL STORY
Pope Leo XIV meets with faith leaders at the Vatican, calls for synodality and dialogue (By Kristina Millare/CNA)
Pope Leo’s address to representatives of other churches and religions: Full text (OSV News)

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