The Attitudes of the Church Towards the Followers of Other Religions

10 June 1984

REFLECTIONS AND ORIENTATIONS
ON DIALOGUE AND MISSION
PENTECOST 1984

Address of the Pope at the conclusion of the Plenary Assembly of the Secretariat

On the morning of Saturday, 3 March 1984, the Pope met in audience with the members of the Secretariat for Non-Christians. The audience marked the conclusion of their Plenary Assembly which had begun on February 27 and which was dedicated principally to the formulation of a document on the relationship between dialogue and mission.

Following is the discourse the Holy Father addressed to the group. (O.R.E.E. 23- 3-1984).

Your Eminences,
 Venerated Brothers!

1.       I am happy to meet with you at the conclusion of the work of the Plenary Assembly, during which you have involved yourselves in studying and coming to a more profound understanding of the general topic “ Dialogue and Mission Twenty years after both its own foundation and the publication of Ecclesiam Suam, which is rightly considered the magna charta of dialogue in its various forms, the Secretariat for non-Christians has proposed this theme for the plenary. During these years an enormous work has been accomplished in order to “ seek ways and means to open an appropriate dialogue with non- Christians ” (Regimini Ecclesiae, A.A.S. 59, p. 919).

Among those who have collaborated in the realization of this project, I mention Cardinal Pignedoli. With his friendly contacts he won the esteem of followers of various religions and supported initiatives adapted to the needs of the times. I extend my sincere thanks also to Archbishop Jadot, the Pro-President, who has always sought to promote suitable meetings with a view to fostering dialogue among adherents to different religions.

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