Pope Benedict XVI Vows to Continue Interfaith Dialogue

April 20, 2005

Source: Beliefnet

Wire Service: AP

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/165/story_16548_1.html

On April 20, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "Charting a papacy in the tradition of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI pledged Wednesday to work for unity among Christians and to seek 'an open and sincere dialogue' with other faiths. In his first Mass as pontiff, Benedict invoked the words of John Paul II - 'Be not afraid' - a message designed to show he is intent on following the groundbreaking path of the late pope. The German-born pontiff also stressed he would draw on the work of the Second Vatican Council, the 1962-65 meeting that modernized the church, an issue important to liberals who are wary of Benedict from his time as Roman Catholicism's doctrinal enforcer. As the world's 1.1 billion Catholics got the first hints of where the papacy is headed, followers of other religions weighed its meaning for interfaith relations. By and large, reactions were hopeful and expectant."