VATICAN CITY, MARCH 30, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says that dialogue between cultures and religions is fundamental, but it must not fall into syncretism, which puts every sort of belief on the same level.
Lasting peace and development depend on this, he said today in an audience with the new Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See, Tetiana Izhevska.
The Holy Father stated: "In our world, evermore conditioned by the urgencies of globalization, a deep and demanding dialogue is necessary between cultures and religions. But this is not to diminish them with an impoverishing syncretism; rather, it is to enable them to develop in a climate of reciprocal respect so that each one works, according to its own charism, for the common good.
"This perspective surely will permit the lessening of ever possible causes of tension and disagreements between groups or nations, and guarantee for all the conditions of lasting peace and development."
Benedict XVI recognized that Ukraine is a "door between the East and the West because of its geographical location." He encouraged "productive exchange … between the two cultural lungs that have forged European history and in particular characterized its Christian history."
The Pope added: "I am certain that Ukraine, deeply imbued with the Gospel in its life, culture and institutions, ever since its baptism more than 1,000 years ago in Kiev, will concern itself with bringing the dynamism of its identity to other nations, maintaining its original characteristics."
ZE07033004 - 2007-03-30
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-19283?l=english
Benedict XVI Warns of Syncretism
Dialogue Doesn't Imply All Religions Are Same, He Says
© Innovative Media, Inc.
Reprinting ZENIT's articles requires written permission from the editor.
 |
Send this to a friend |  |
Comment on this article |
 |
Printer-friendly format |  |
PDF format |
 |
Home |
