Pope Francis urged all religious individuals to live in harmony and reject the ideological extremism that fuels violence. This statement was made during an interfaith gathering in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, where he was joined by representatives of nearly ten other religions. This type of gathering has previously drawn criticism from conservative critics of Francis.
It appeared that Pope Francis was sending a message to China, which borders Mongolia, as he stated that there is nothing for governments to fear from the Catholic Church because it does not have a political agenda. Human rights groups report that China suppresses religious freedom, which creates complications in the relationship between Beijing and the Vatican.
Since the beginning of his visit to Mongolia, the Pope has praised the religious freedom present there, a freedom that was not prevalent when the country fell under Soviet influence in the past. After listening to speeches from representatives of Buddhism, Islam, Evangelicalism, Judaism, Orthodoxy, Hinduism, Baha'i faith, and other beliefs and religions, Francis stated, "Religions are called to offer the world this harmony, which technical progress alone cannot provide."
He continued by saying, "Brothers and sisters, we stand together today as humble heirs of ancient schools of wisdom. By coming together, we commit to sharing the great good we have received, to enrich humanity often confused in its pursuit of short-sighted profit and welfare."
The Pope quoted from Buddhist writings, saying, "The wise man rejoices in giving, and this alone brings him joy," and he noted the similarity of this phrase to Christ's teaching, which states, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." He reiterated the importance of interfaith and intercultural dialogue, emphasizing that dialogue does not mean covering up or ignoring disagreements, but rather striving for mutual understanding and enrichment. He added, "If the leaders of nations choose the path of meeting and dialogue with others, they will contribute decisively to ending the conflicts that continue to cause suffering for many peoples."
