May we all learn to be brothers and sisters to all

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Religion and violence ought to be totally incompatible, but as we all know, they too often feed off one another in ways that offend God and dehumanize humankind. So-called “religious” or “holy” wars have been prominent throughout history, and regardless of the particular religions involved, they have invariably made the goals of genuine religion—union with God through dialogue, mutual understanding, and the common good—much more difficult to accomplish.

In his encyclical  Fratelli Tutti (On Fraternity and Social Friendship), Pope Francis devotes his eighth and final chapter to a discussion of the role of religion in promoting peace and harmony among diverse peoples and cultures. As the Holy Father writes:

The different religions, based on their respect for each human person as a creature called to be a child of God, contribute significantly to building fraternity and defending justice in society. Dialogue between the followers of different religions does not take place simply for the sake of diplomacy, consideration or tolerance. In the words of the Bishops of India, “the goal of dialogue is to establish friendship, peace and harmony, and to share spiritual and moral values and experiences in a spirit of truth and love” (Fratelli Tutti #271).

Peace is the result of justice, mutual respect, and the recognition that in spite of our differences, which can be significant, we are all children of God and sisters and brothers to each other.

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