Pope Francis, addressing an interfaith gathering in the Mongolian capital, described himself as one of the “humble successors” of the ancient school of intricacies and quoted the words of the Buddha. He encouraged all religions to live in harmony and shun ideological fundamentalism that stimulates violence.
Pope Francis spoke at an inter-religious meeting in Mongolia that was also attended by representatives of other religions. The Pope’s visit to Mongolia was mainly to meet with the small Catholic community there, which has 1,450 members and is one of the smallest Catholic communities in the world. During his visit, the Pope will hold a special mass for them.
As well as meeting with the Catholic community, the Pope also used his visit to send a message to Beijing, which has difficult relations with the Vatican, that the government should not be afraid of the Catholic Church because it has no political agenda.
Pope Francis has appreciated religious freedom in Mongolia, which experienced severe repression when the country was under the influence of the Soviet Union. During this meeting, the Pope heard speeches from various religious leaders, including Mongolian Buddhist leaders, Muslims, Evangelicals, Jews, Orthodox, Mormons, Hindus, Shintoists, Baha’is, and Shamans.
In his speech, Pope Francis quoted the Buddha saying that “a wise man delights in giving,” which is similar to Jesus saying “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” He emphasized the importance of inter-religious and cultural dialogue.
Although some conservative Catholics have criticized the Pope for attending such gatherings, Pope Francis reiterated that he places great value on “ecumenical, inter-religious and cultural dialogue.” He believes that dialogue does not mean “disguising differences” but seeking understanding and enrichment.
The pope condemned “closedness, one-sided enforcement, fundamentalism and ideological constraints,” which he said undermined fraternity, fueled tensions and threatened peace.
Several religious leaders, including a Jewish representative and a shaman, bestowed special blessings from their religion on the Pope, wishing him health and long life. In Mongolia, only a few Jews remain, and the community primarily caters to tourists and business travelers.
Source: Reuters