Vatican News video screengrab / YouTube
CV NEWS FEED // Pope Leo XIV, in one of his first acts as pontiff, welcomed Christian and interfaith leaders to the Vatican on Monday, reaffirming the Catholic Church’s commitment to unity and dialogue across religious lines.
The audience, held just a day after his inaugural Mass, brought together representatives from other Christian denominations and major world religions, Vatican News reported. The gathering reflected continuity with the ecumenical and interreligious themes emphasized during Pope Francis’ pontificate.
Referring to his predecessor, Pope Leo said, “Pope Francis, the Pope of Fratelli tutti, promoted both the ecumenical path and inter-religious dialogue … without taking anything away from ecclesial bonds, the human trait of the encounter was always valued. May God help us to treasure his witness!”
To fellow Christians, Pope Leo emphasized the need for unity grounded in shared belief. He noted the upcoming 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea as a call to deeper communion, declaring that full visible unity among Christians remains a top priority for his papacy.
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He also noted the connection between ecumenism and synodality, affirming his dedication to continue Pope Francis’ work in fostering “the synodal character of the Catholic Church.”
Turning to non-Christian leaders, Pope Leo called the present moment “a time for dialogue and building bridges,” according to Vatican News. He stressed that mutual respect and conscience should guide engagement with Muslims, Jews, and people of other faiths, including Hinduism and Buddhism.
He ended the address with a plea for religious communities to unite against war, injustice, and violence and work together for peace, disarmament, and integral development.
“The witness of our fraternity … will certainly contribute to building a more peaceful world,” he said, “something that all men and women of good will desire in their hearts.”
