Pope: All people should be free to choose and practice religion

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"The world, especially at this moment in history, needs believers who are consistent and strongly committed to building and maintaining social and world peace."

Pope Francis made this observation when greeting a group of Muslims from a Mosque in the Italian city of Bologna, ahead of his General Audience on Wednesday morning, as he thanked them for "being artisans of peace."

The Holy Father said their witness of fraternity is "precious" and "indispensable," and that this is lived out, in respect, dialogue, and openness.

All worshipping One God

"Jesus," the Pope recalled, "taught us to welcome one another as brothers," adding that "this applies first and foremost to us, Christians, Jews, and Muslims, who worship the One God and who refer, albeit in different ways, to Abraham as father in faith."

"We, who have been given the gift of this religious affiliation," the Holy Father said, "are called to be open and welcoming to those who do not share it, because they are, like all of us, members of the one human family."

Sincere and respectful dialogue between Christians and Muslims, Pope Francis insisted, "is a duty for us who wish to obey God's will."

Love which surpasses misunderstandings

"Indeed," he explained, "the will of a Father is that His children love each other, help each other, and that, if some difficulty or misunderstanding arises between them, they come to an agreement with humility and patience."

Such dialogue, the Pope underscored, requires the "effective recognition" of every person's dignity and rights.

"At the top of these rights," he noted, "is that of freedom of conscience and religion," which, he explained, "means that every human being must be fully free with regard to his or her religious choices."

Proposing, not imposing

"Every believer," the Pope said, "must feel free to propose—never impose!—their own religion to other people, believers or not."

Therefore, he said, this excludes and rejects all forms of proselytism, financial favours, and taking advantage of people's ignorance.

In addition, he mentioned, "marriages between people of different religions must not be an opportunity to convert the spouse to one's own religion."

Mutual respect and friendship

Addressing those gathered as "dear friends," the Holy Father expressed his hope that the Muslim representatives, wherever they may live, can maintain good relations with the Catholic Church, at all levels, "in mutual respect and friendship."

Calling for all believers to cultivate peace together, Pope Francis concluded by assuring everyone of his prayers and asking them to pray for him.

Pope Francis with Muslim representatives from Bologna